Alistair Johnston

Alistair Johnston is reportedly a transfer target for Celtic.

The Canada international starred for John Herdman's Canucks as they pushed an under par Belgium all the way in their first World Cup appearance since 1986. Alphonso Davies missed a first half penalty before Michy Batshuayi netted the only goal of the game as Roberto Martinez’s side were fortunate to take all three points in their opening game.

Defender Johnston played on the right of Canada’s back three and the Scottish Sun report that Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou is thought to be a big admirer of the player. The Aussie further bolstered his backline earlier on Wednesday with the capture of Japanese defender Yuki Kobayashi on a pre-contract. He’ll join Celtic on the first of January after agreeing a five-year contract with the champions. Johnston signed for MLS outfit CF Montreal just under a year ago for £800,000. It’s likely celtic would need to shell out more than that to land him, and Montreal would be due a 10 per cent cut of any profit made over an above what they paid for the 24-year-old.

Postecoglou wants to bring in two players during the January transfer window and Kobayashi means it;s one down on that front. Johnston may not be a priority right now, but is seen as a potential long-term replacement for Josip Juranovic. The Croat, who played in his country’s goalless draw with Morocco on Wednesday morning. Has been attracting interest from some of Europe’s top clubs. Should a sizable bid be made when the transfer window opens, Celtic would need to have a contingency in place if it were accepted, even if that doesn’t happen until the summer. The rough and tumble of Scottish football should be no problem to Johnston, who honed his physical attributes by playing ice hockey as a kid. He told Canadian outlet Sportsnet: "I played hockey competitively in the winter and then soccer in the summer, and I was always known as a guy who loved to bodycheck and to hit guys. I’ve always loved the feeling of just laying someone out, as crazy as that sounds, and I just brought that attitude into soccer. "I love a good tackle to this day. Nothing gets me more excited [than] if I get clattered into by an opponent or I clatter into him and it’s clean and the guy starts pushing me back. That’s something I just love.”

 

Seems a smart pickup, tbf Ange could go after O'Donnell and I'd 100% trust his judgement.

 

Was impressed by him today against Belgium one rash tackle aside.

 

That rash challenge was a great professional foul… albeit it was to recover his own mistake. He does look a good player though

 

Sign him up for the name alone

 

https://www.transfermarkt.us/alista...ost-valuable-defender-in-mls/view/news/414167


Celtic FC are in advanced talks to sign Canadian men's national team star Alistair Johnston from CF Montréal. Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation have told Transfermarkt that a deal is now closing in for the €6 million valued right-back who could also play at center-back. Johnston is currently with the Canadian team in Qatar and was a standout in his nation's defeat to Belgium (0-1) on Wednesday.


Johnston has recently been linked with a move to Italian side Bologna, a club also owned by the Saputo family, who owns the Major League Soccer club in Montréal. But Celtic are now leading the race, and a deal between the player and the MLS club has already been formally agreed upon. A move to Scotland is straightforward for Johnston as he holds a UK passport on top of his Irish and Canadian citizenship.



Celtic, in the meantime, have secured one of the top defenders in MLS. Johnston can play both right-back and center-back, and with a market value of €6 million, he is the joint most valuable defender in MLS with LA Galaxy's Julián Araujo (overview).




Johnston to Celtic - Montréal defender has seen market value rise

Johnston's rise in recent years, in fact, has been phenomenal. Drafted out of college by Nashville SC in 2020, Johnston was traded to Montréal for around €900,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) ahead of the 2022 season. At Montréal, Johnston has managed four goals and four assists in 39 games across all competitions in 2022.

 

Seems a good lad

 

Would be all for this. That Canada side if full of talent.

 

So just over 5 mill for him. Bit more than I thought he'd cost but looks a goer..

Watched his videos above and he looks impressive. Good deliveries and on the ball in general. Solid and tough wee * who's mobile and defensively sound also..

 

There must be a deal for Juranovic to go in place if we are going to pay that for another right back.

Edit: being honest I can’t really see anywhere properly saying we are paying €6m for him other than that one guy. The other articles talk about his transfermarkt value being that, so may be he has taken it from that.

Anyway I have watched the videos and he looks good defensively, there isn’t much of his attacking play shown but looks strong, good in the air, decent pace and reads the game well. Be interesting to see what he can bring.

 

Said it in the other thread but I think he'd be a cracking signing. Young, probably cheap, and looks perfect for our style.

Edit: maybe not so cheap then, just seeing the reported fee. Still all for this.

 

100% mate. I think it's clear Jura is off.

 

Ange doesn't mess about. I'll be sad to see JJ go though not gonna lie

 

Love that he's a wee hard *. We need more of those in this side.

 

Two Celtic full backs

Alistair & Greg

as Bob Dylan once sang, “the times they are a changing”

The Sevconians won’t be able to comprehend this!

A few Allys and Greegs getting shunned on a Thursday night as they walk alone across the chequered floor of their temples!

 

Good literary name, Alasdair/Alistair. Reid and Gray. Alasdair Gray was a huge tim. Designed a Celtic View front cover in the early 00s.

 

Just seen Wanyama plays for them.

 

He looked decent last night, more good news.

 

6 million seems alot for a right back who plays in the mls not that I would be opposed to paying that.

wonder how much we would get for JJ , 15 million tops ?