Nigerian international Kelechi Iheanacho has finalized his transfer to the Turkish club Bursaspor after turning down a contract renewal from the Scottish champions, Celtic.
The 29-year-old forward is leaving Glasgow after assisting Celtic in achieving a domestic league and cup double during a season plagued by injuries.
Celtic had proposed new terms to Iheanacho in an effort to retain him, but the ex-Leicester City and Manchester City player chose to pursue a new opportunity in Turkey.
On Friday, Bursaspor, who gained promotion to the Turkish second division after winning the TFF Second League last season, announced the signing and revealed the Nigerian player in the team’s classic green and white colors.
Iheanacho's exit occurs during a tough transfer period for Celtic. On Thursday, the club's CEO, Michael Nicholson, acknowledged that it is "difficult" to bolster the squad, as the Scottish champions are up against English Championship teams with greater financial resources in the transfer market.
Celtic has so far secured just one signing this summer, acquiring Colombian striker Camilo Duran from Qarabag for an undisclosed amount.
The Scottish club is also dealing with uncertainty regarding the future of Japan international Daizen Maeda, who is entering the last year of his contract, which leaves the team with limited attacking options as the new season approaches.
Iheanacho joined Celtic as a free agent after the conclusion of the summer transfer window in 2025, following his exit from Sevilla.
Despite suffering a hamstring injury that kept him out for a considerable part of the season and limited him to only two starts after October, the Nigerian still played a significant role.
He netted nine goals in total across various competitions, with six of those coming off the bench. His contributions were crucial in aiding Celtic to triumph in their last nine games, leading to the acquisition of both the Scottish Premiership title and the Scottish Cup.