Fabrizio Romano confirms another Celtic departure

Celtic’s academy has suffered another setback after highly rated youngster Erskine Rennie opted to begin his professional career with Premier League side Fulham.

The 16-year-old becomes the latest promising talent to leave the Hoops before signing a professional contract, continuing a trend that has frustrated supporters and raised further questions about the pathway from the academy to the first team.

Once players reach the age of 16, clubs can offer them professional terms, and Celtic’s youth setup has increasingly become a hunting ground for English clubs looking to recruit some of Scotland’s brightest prospects.

Rennie’s departure follows that of teammate Dara Jikiemi, who recently completed a move to Liverpool. While the destination clubs may differ, the pattern has become all too familiar, with top English and European sides identifying Celtic’s standout academy players before they commit their futures in Glasgow.

The trend stretches back several years. Liam Morrison left Celtic for Bayern Munich in 2019 despite featuring in first-team pre-season matches under Neil Lennon. More recently, Ben Doak emerged as one of the club’s most notable academy departures, choosing Liverpool after making two senior appearances for Celtic, including an Old Firm clash.

Financial incentives are undoubtedly a factor, but many young players also view opportunities elsewhere as offering a clearer route to first-team football.

Had Rennie remained at Celtic, he could have progressed through the club’s Under-17 and Under-19 programmes before gaining senior experience with the B team in the Lowland League or through a loan spell with an SPFL club. Last season, Celtic partnered with Ayr United through a cooperation agreement, although similar arrangements with League One or League Two clubs were absent.

Until Celtic consistently produce academy graduates capable of making the leap into the senior squad—as Kieran Tierney famously did—the club may continue to lose some of its brightest young talents before they reach the first team.