Jahmai Simpson-Pusey’s first-team breakthrough at Manchester City came in their difficult spell in the middle of last season – now, Brendan Rodgers is taking him on loan to Celtic.
Simpson-Pusey was in attendance at Celtic Park, watching his new side win 1-0 against St Mirren whilst dressed in clubwear. The deal, it seems, is only waiting to be announced.
Dropping back down to Manchester City’s under-21 side for the second half of last season, the 19-year-old eventually claimed the Player of the Season award in the Premier League 2, England’s main reserve league.
He also featured against Celtic last summer, playing 63 minutes in a pre-season friendly in which Brendan Rodgers’ side ran out 4-3 winners. This was his first senior football experience of any kind.
Despite City’s form faltering during Simpson-Pusey’s bedding-in period, Pep Guardiola spoke glowingly about the teenager. With a loan move to Celtic now imminent, his words will be of interest to Hoops fans.
Pep Guardiola has praised ‘composure’ and ‘duels’ of imminent Celtic signing Jahmai Simpson-Pusey
Celtic are not short of options at centre-back, but no one has yet claimed the starting spot next to Cameron Carter-Vickers as their own.
Despite Auston Trusty having an impressive pre-season, he was benched on the opening league matchday against St Mirren, coming on from the bench when Liam Scales moved to left-back.
For Simpson-Pusey, the opportunity is there. Speaking after a match against Brighton last November, in which former Celtic hero Matt O’Riley scored the winner, Guardiola waxed lyrical about the young defender.
He said: “Jahmai Simpson-Pusey played really good again, with this composure – the duels, everything was good. We have a central defender to help us for the next years.
“I’m really pleased. Always, there is good news when a situation is going bad – and this is one of them. It’s not easy for him.
“Normally, the young lads come in with the support of the team – Rodri in front of them, the best Kyle Walker and other defenders. He’s playing in a position that is difficult for him, and he performed unbelievably.”
With first-team opportunities likely to be more frequent at Celtic than at City, a run of senior minutes could be priceless for Simpson-Pusey, benefiting him and his new club alike.
Brendan Rodgers has a centre-back, but what else does he and Celtic need?
With the league season now underway and less than a month of the transfer window remaining, Celtic’s transfer business is far from complete.
With Adam Idah’s performance against St Mirren drawing criticism, a new striker remains the main priority of much of the Parkhead faithful.
| Player signed | Club signed from |
| Kieran Tierney | Arsenal |
| Ross Doohan | Aberdeen |
| Benjamin Nygren | Nordsjaelland |
| Callum Osmand | Fulham |
| Hayato Inamura | Albirex Niigata |
| Shin Yamada | Kawasaki Frontale |
The departure of Nicolas Kuhn and long-term injury to Jota have also left the wide areas feeling short, with various wingers linked throughout the window, most notably Michel-Ange Balikwisha of Royal Antwerp.
Of the Celts’ six confirmed summer arrivals, just two started in the St Mirren match, with Hayato Inamura, Ross Doohan and Callum Osmand not even named in the squad despite being available.
For Rodgers, a quality-over-quantity approach will be desirable for the remainder of the summer transfer window.