Liam Scales of Shamrock Rovers has sealed his dream move to Scottish giants Celtic from Shamrock Rovers.
It has been quite the rise for Scales, however, with his career only taking off (in a literal sense) during his latter teen years at UCD.
🟢☘️⚪️ 𝑯𝒐𝒐𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑯𝒐𝒐𝒑𝒔 🟢🍀⚪️
We've reached an agreement with @ShamrockRovers to sign Irish defender, Liam Scales, subject to conditions! 🇮🇪
Full details ⤵️#WelcomeScales 📝— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 27, 2021
He would leave UCD at the end of the 2019 League of Ireland season, unable to help the Students avoid relegation back to the First Division.
But despite not being to help his side stay up, he would earn himself a lucrative move to Shamrock Rovers following assured performances at the back for the Belfield side.
After impressing at Tallaght Stadium, Scales is expected to become the most expensive League of Ireland player ever, surpassing the fee paid for Gavin Bazunu, also formerly of Shamrock Rovers.
Who is Liam Scales?
Liam Scales is a 23-year-old defender from Barndarrig, Co. Wicklow, and is one of the most highly-rated defenders to come through the League of Ireland in recent seasons.
Rather than going over to England at a young age to cut his teeth in a development sense, Scales stayed at home to complete his education before then going on to study in UCD.
While at the Belfield campus, the 6ft 4 defender completed his studies in Irish and Geography over a three-year period.
That was of course, where he would begin his League of Ireland career, impressing under Collie O’Neill at the club.
During his time donning the sky blue of UCD, Scales would make 100 senior competitive appearances for the club in both league and cup competition.
He also won a First Division title with the club in 2018, part of an exceptional side that included Shamrock Rovers duo Neil Farrugia and Gary O’Neill.
And it was not just in league competition where that side excelled, they also dominated in third-level competition, winning the Collingwood and Harding Cup’s.
That side also included a schoolmate of Liam, Daire O’Connor, who has recently made his move to Scotland to join Ayr United.
Where would he fit in at Celtic?
It’s no secret that Celtic are enduring a pretty bad time of things at the moment in both European and domestic competition.
New boss Ange Postecoglou has only recently taken charge of the club, and going by his first three competitive games at the helm, he has lots of work to do to steady the ship.
The Bhoys struggled defensively last season, so the arrival of Scales would bolster their defensive ranks, despite what some Celtic fans may suggest.
The left-footed defender can play centre-back, left-back or even wing-back, providing an excellent option wherever he is needed to play.
The wing-back position has been a position he has only recently been introduced to, although that is not evident based on many of his performances.
Any excuse to post this one 👏👏
Liam Scales 🚀pic.twitter.com/qxVAO5AShf— Rep of Ireland Player Tracker (@RepTracker) August 2, 2021
He is a goal threat and can very easily pick a pass into the attacking thirds. His ability is not to be scoffed at in an attacking sense, nor are his defensive capabilities.
What has been the reaction to the potential move been like in Glasgow?
Well, it would be fair to say that some of the reaction to the potential move was mixed when rumours first circulated earlier this month.
Many Celtic supporters are panicking about the direction the club is going in and craving big-money transfers to steady the ship. These same supporters - many of whom have not watched Scales before - have criticised the potential deal.
I'll take anyone right now.
However if we went to 'actually' improve we need to make better signings than Liam Scales.
I'm not saying he's a bad player but he's not the signing we need to take us forward.— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) August 2, 2021
No harm to Liam Scales, this is not what we need, who is scouting these players?
— Ge Fitzy (gebhoy) (@fitzy_ge) August 2, 2021
Pardon my ignorance but who the fk is Liam Scales 🍀
— mac (@weeramborossa) August 2, 2021
At least some know...
If celtic sign Liam Scales he won't take long to silence those who are moaning about him...
He's one of the best players in the league of Ireland and will go on soon to be a full international for Ireland!
Transfer fees and current leagues mean nothing... This boy is very good!— CELTIC NATION🍀⚽️⭐ (@CelticNation67) August 2, 2021
What else should you know about Liam Scales?
As of the summer of 2019, Scales was also in line to make a cross-channel move, with Bristol Rovers looking all but set to secure his signature. Complications, however, would scupper that move at the end of July.
Talk of that move came shortly after he had a trial at Premier League giants Manchester City.
He joined Shamrock Rovers shortly after that complication with Bristol, where he would link up with his former UCD teammates Gary O’Neill and Neil Farrugia at the Hoops.
Since joining Stephen Bradley’s side, the Co. Wicklow native, who played senior football with Arklow Town in the junior ranks as a teenager before joining UCD’s underage set-up at under-19 level, has made over 40 appearances for the club.
Oh yea, and he can score bangers like this.
Liam Scales is effective at both ends of the pitch. The rumoured 600k fee that Celtic could pay looks well worth it 🇮🇪pic.twitter.com/IlwCLERuS2
— Rep of Ireland Player Tracker (@RepTracker) August 2, 2021
SEE ALSO: 21 Under 21 - The Best League Of Ireland Players Under 21 Years Of Age
