Martin O'Neill clarifies Celtic Iheanacho deal collapse

Martin O'Neill has clarified Celtic's Kelechi Iheanacho debacle after an initial contract offer was accepted. The agent then went AWOL, returned seeking £47,000 a week, and the striker joined Bursaspor in Turkey on those terms within 48 hours, ending hopes of a Parkhead return.

Key Takeaways

• Celtic and Iheanacho initially agreed a deal around £12,000 a week, rising to £17,000 with add-ons, before any official contract was signed.
• Iheanacho's agent stopped answering calls and emails, then demanded £47,000 a week — the same figure he later took at Bursaspor on a three-year deal.
• Martin O'Neill said he thought a deal was done, but it was not, and stressed there are "two sides to every transfer."
• Left-back Marcelo Saracchi also will not return; O'Neill says other Celtic transfer talks are progressing.

What exactly happened with Iheanacho and Celtic?

According to The Herald, Iheanacho had initially agreed to re-join Celtic after last season's stay. The club did not simply trigger an automatic extension. Instead, it sought to renegotiate this summer.

A package worth £12,000 per week — rising to £17,000 with add-ons — was reportedly accepted before paperwork was completed. Then the player's agent went silent. When contact resumed earlier this week, the demand jumped to £47,000 a week. Less than 48 hours later, Iheanacho signed for Bursaspor in Turkey's second division on a three-year deal at that higher wage.

Celtic had previously confirmed an option to extend his initial one-year deal by a further 12 months when he arrived last September. That option was not activated on the old terms. Iheanacho scored nine goals for Celtic last season and was widely seen as a useful impact option in big matches.

What did Martin O'Neill say about the collapse?

Speaking after Celtic's 1-1 pre-season draw with Middlesbrough, Martin O'Neill addressed the fallout directly. "I thought we had a deal with him but that wasn't the case so he's gone to pastures new," he said. On the unused option, he added that it would have meant taking someone on similar terms to before — "so that's where the difference was."

He also declined to pin a date on when the option lapsed, saying only that he believed a fresh agreement was sorted and it did not materialise. Fans tracking celebrity breaking news will note his caution: he will not call a signing "absolute" until it is done, especially after this near-miss.

Why does the Saracchi exit matter alongside this?

Marcelo Saracchi confirmed on Instagram that he will not re-sign, saying he and his agent "did absolutely everything" to return to Glasgow but it will not happen. O'Neill again pointed to "circumstances" that "seemingly meant it was never going to happen," while praising the left-back's contribution last term.

With only forward Camilo Duran brought in so far and the Premiership title defence approaching, O'Neill insisted progress is being made on other deals — without giving a timeframe. For Celtic supporters, the Iheanacho saga is less about one rejected bid and more about how close a re-signing looked before wages and communication blew it up in dramatic fashion this week.