Celtic have been dealt a blow in their academy ranks after highly-rated prospect Dara Jikiemi rejected a new deal at Parkhead and agreed a move to Liverpool.
The 16-year-old defender is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents to emerge from the Hoops’ youth system in recent years. Despite Celtic’s attempts to keep him in Glasgow, the teenager has opted to pursue a new challenge in England.
Jikiemi has already shown impressive leadership qualities at a young age, even captaining the Scotland Under-15 side. His maturity on the pitch and ability to organise those around him have made him stand out among his peers.
But it’s not just leadership that has caught the attention of top clubs.
The youngster’s versatility has been a major factor in his growing reputation. While naturally a centre-back, Jikiemi has also featured in defensive midfield for Celtic’s youth sides this season — a flexibility that many clubs value highly in the modern game.
That combination of composure, leadership and adaptability quickly placed him on the radar of several English clubs.
Nottingham Forest were among the sides reportedly monitoring the situation, but as discussions progressed the decision ultimately came down to two options: remain at Celtic and continue his development in Scotland, or make the switch to Merseyside with Liverpool.
In the end, Liverpool’s long-term project proved too tempting to turn down.
The presence of Scottish sporting director Richard Hughes and the club’s vision for developing young players are understood to have played a significant role in convincing the teenager that Anfield was the right destination for his future.
According to TeamTalk: “Liverpool have won the race to sign highly-rated Celtic youngster, Dara Jikiemi, after convincing the teenage defender to make the move south of the border. The English champions have been working on a deal for the 16-year-old since the turn of the year, identifying the versatile youngster as one of the brightest prospects in Celtic’s academy setup.
“Jikiemi, who is comfortable at centre-back but can also operate in midfield, has now opted to reject Celtic’s offer of a three-year deal in favour of a switch to Anfield. Sources have confirmed to TEAMtalk that the teenager has agreed to join Liverpool on a scholarship, with a professional contract already lined up for when he turns 17 next January.”
For Celtic supporters, the move may spark memories of previous academy departures who chose to head south of the border in search of bigger opportunities.
One of the most notable examples is Ben Doak, who made the move from Celtic to Liverpool in 2022. The winger has since continued his rise in English football and was sold to Bournemouth for around £25 million last summer.
The Scotland international also played his part in helping his national team qualify for their first World Cup since 1998, providing the assist for Scott McTominay’s spectacular acrobatic strike against Denmark.
Another Scottish talent to follow a similar path was Calvin Ramsay. The former Aberdeen full-back joined Liverpool in June 2022 for a fee of around £4.2 million — a deal that represented a record sale for the Pittodrie club at the time.
Jikiemi now joins a growing list of Celtic academy players who have chosen to continue their development in England. Conall Glancy moved to Tottenham Hotspur, Daniel Cummings joined West Ham United, Aidan Borland signed for Aston Villa and Rory Mahady made the switch to Leeds United.
For Celtic, losing such a highly regarded prospect will be disappointing. However, it also reflects the increasing attention being paid to the club’s youth development system by some of Europe’s biggest teams.
And while Jikiemi’s departure represents a loss for the Hoops today, the teenager’s move to Liverpool could prove to be the first step in what many believe will be a very bright future.
