Arsenal block January transfer exit as Mikel Arteta stamps his authority
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants to have a big squad available to him for the second half of the 2024-25 season, with the Gunners still in three different competitions
by Nathan Ridley · The MirrorArsenal won't allow Kieran Tierney to join Celtic until the summer - despite the player agreeing terms on a January move.
Tierney, 27, has been made to wait on return his emotional return to Glasgow, with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta keen to keep him as a option for the second half of this season. The Scottish left-back only has five months left on his Arsenal contract and had already pre-agreed a four-year deal with former club Celtic.
Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers revealed this week that he hoped to bring Tierney in before deadline day on Monday, February 3, but Arsenal's decision will instead see him complete his homecoming in July. The Telegraph report that Scotland international Tierney will be part of the Gunners' push for the Premier League title and their run throughout the Champions League knockout phase.
Arsenal are also still in the Carabao Cup, although they'll need to overturn a 2-0 semi-final deficit against Newcastle next Wednesday. Tierney, who was injured until November, spent last season on loan at Spanish side Real Sociedad.
Despite his limited game-time at Arsenal, a number of European big-hitters were interested in signing him. German champions Bayer Leverkusen, La Liga side Sevilla and Italian giants Juventus had all expressed interest. Everton were also admirers of the 27-year-old, who's chosen to move back up north.
Celtic recently cut short left-back Alex Valle's loan from Barcelona, with Rodgers hoping to add Tierney to his squad before Monday's 11pm deadline. "I think we're agreed that it will definitely take place in the summer. If we can do it beforehand, then great," he confirmed ahead of Wednesday's 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa in the Champions League.
"I don't want to speak too much on it with the greatest respect, because he's not a Celtic player here now with us. But, if we were able to do it, of course, we would like to do that, but that's out of our control at this moment in time."
Should Arsenal have let Kieran Tierney leave in January? Have your say in the comments section.
In December, Arteta said of Tierney's future: "He's fully committed. He's enjoying playing after a long period again with a really tough injury, so live the moment. He's a big part of the squad now. He deserves to be in the squad and played really well after such a long time, so that's the only thing I can say."
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