Johnny Kenny: I’d love to sign a new contract at Celtic

Brendan Rodgers again confirmed Kenny has been offered a new deal in the aftermath of their Cork Super Cup triumph.

STAYING PUT?: Celtic's Johnny Kenny makes a run at the Cork City defence during the Cork Super Cup. Pic: David Creedon

Johnny Kenny admits he would “love” to sign a new contract with Celtic although he also hasn’t ruled out leaving the club on loan in the near future.

The 22-year-old Sligo native penned a five-year deal with the Hoops back in January 2022 and has largely played his football elsewhere ever since, enjoying loan spells at Queens Park and two season long stints at Shamrock Rovers in 2023 and 2024.

Kenny returned to Parkhead at the beginning of 2025 and soon made his senior competitive debut, although his first start for the Celts wouldn’t come until May in the 5-1 victory away at Aberdeen, where he netted his first goal for the club.

But speaking following Celtic’s 2-1 win against Cork City in the Cork Super Cuptarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday night, and not long after manager Brendan Rodgers again confirmed he has been offered a new deal, the former Sligo Rovers forward insisted his aim is to succeed in Glasgow.

“I’d love to sign a new contract at this club,” began Kenny, who had been linked with a permanent transfer to Bolton Wanderers this summer.

“It’s the club I want to play for at the end of the day. Since I came back in January, I can’t describe how good the manager has been for me.

“Obviously, he wants me to sign a new deal, so that’s very promising for me at this club. I’m happy to sign a new contract.

“The manager will make his decision on that (another loan move). Wherever I am, I want to play football.

“I want to develop myself, and I think playing games is going to develop me. I want to try and break into the national team, and I think playing games is the way I’m going to get into that team.

“I think the manager will have a pathway for me, and I don’t think he’s going to keep me here and not play me.

“So whatever the manager decides, I'm all behind, because everything he's told me since January has been 100 per cent, so I believe in the manager.

“I came in, learned my trade the last few months, learned the system in and out of possession. I feel like I'm ready to kick on now and hopefully get the opportunities to do that.

“My dream is to represent this club on a daily basis. There's so many games at this club and I hope I can break in and get opportunities to do that because that's all I want to do.

“It's such a big club and I want to be part of it.”