Johnny Kenny will be major asset for Celtic, insists Brendan Rodgers as Irish striker extends deal until 2029

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has tipped Johnny Kenny to be a major asset for the club after the Irish striker signed a long-term contract extension.

The 22-year-old has signed a deal that ties him to Celtic until 2029 after becoming a regular feature in Rodgers’ team during pre-season and coming off the bench in the opening Premiership win over St Mirren.

Kenny netted his first goal for the club in May in a 5-1 win at Aberdeen, where Celtic return on league duty on Sunday.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international joined on a five-year deal from Sligo Rovers in January 2022 and has had loan spells with Queen’s Park and Shamrock Rovers, where he netted 25 goals last year.

Rodgers said of the contract extension: ‘It’s good news for Johnny and the club. He’s a young player that was signed a few years ago, went away, got experience, has come back and we can really see the difference in his development since he came back in January.

‘So we think he’s still got a load more development to go. He’s quick, he’s hungry and we think in the future he can be a really good asset for the club.’

Kenny revealed how important it was to have his manager’s backing.

‘All I wanted to do was commit my future to this club and I’m delighted it’s done now,’ he said.

‘I feel really proud. I spoke to the manager at the start of the summer and it was a case of tying it all together.

‘I like to think I can score goals and the manager believes in me, too, so that helps when I’m in and around the box, knowing the manager backs me.

‘I want to achieve everything possible at this club. I want to play Champions League football, win every trophy available and score goals. That’s my aim.’

Kenny is currently competing with Daizen Maeda, Adam Idah and Shin Yamada for first-team action, but it’s possible he will go out on loan again if Rodgers gets the attacking options he is seeking in the transfer market.

Rodgers said: ‘At this very moment he’s here and a part of our squad, so I think you look through to the end of the month and obviously there’s still work across the squad to do. But he’s had a really good pre-season, worked very hard, this will give him confidence and give him that feeling that he’s wanted at the club. And then, like with all the players, we’ll always assess where they’re at. But at this moment he’s very much in our thinking.’

A week after warning the Celtic board he would only consider extending his own deal if they matched his ambition, Rodgers had no further news on transfers,

But he reassured fans the club hierarchy had come good in the past as he awaits additions before the deadline.

Since he made his ultimatum, Celtic have finalised a loan deal for Manchester City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who was already in the building when Rodgers made his comments.

Asked for a transfer update, the manager said: ‘There’s no news, I’ve got nothing new for you.

‘It’s very clear what we need to improve and there’s a lot of work going on, clearly, by ourselves and probably every club. That’s the reality of this time of the year, there’s lots of work going on throughout many clubs. We’re hoping we can conclude some deals and improve the squad.’

Asked why more had not been concluded, he said: ‘There’s obviously many things that go into it. I don’t do the deals so I can’t answer that for you. But I know that behind the scenes obviously there’s a lot of work, a lot of discussions that go on.’

Although Celtic have made signings over the summer, some are project players and the forward areas are in clear need of strengthening, with Yamada yet to make his debut. Celtic did not replace Kyogo Furuhashi in January after selling him to Rennes and have since lost Jota to a long-term knee injury and sold fellow winger Nicolas Kuhn to Como.

‘I think the board have shown over many years that the work will get done,’ added Rodgers. ‘And obviously, as a group that run the club and have run it so well for so many years, they have to get what they will feel is the best value for the players.

‘Of course, as coaches and managers and supporters, you want the best players. But ultimately, the club will be run in a way that makes sure that both the best players and the best value is there to be made. And that sits above me, that’s something that clearly does.

‘Of course, we want to improve the squad and the board will want to improve the squad as well. So I’m very hopeful we can do that. I’m just, I can’t afford to get bogged down in it.’