Released by Celtic; Defender Finds New Home

Peterborough United signed Justin Osagie to a one-year contract, making him the most recent former Celtic young player to move south in pursuit of consistent playing time. After spending two years at Celtic and time in the West Ham academy, the 17-year-old defender takes the next step in his career by joining the League One team after making an impression during a trial period.
Osagie’s departure, in the eyes of Celtic supporters, represents a persistent problem with the team’s development structure. Celtic’s B squad plays in the Lowland League, which frequently fails to develop young players for senior first-team responsibilities. Even though it may seem like a step backward on paper, players who aspire to play at a higher level occasionally turn to England’s lower leagues for realistic alternatives.

According to his Celtic profile, Osagie left West Ham’s academy in September 2022 and signed a three-year contract with Celtic. He added an international accomplishment to his early career shortly after moving to Glasgow when he was called up for the first time to Ireland’s U19 side.

Osagie played 21 games for Celtic B in the Lowland League during the previous season. But in the summer, Celtic and the player decided to sever their relationship.

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson is optimistic about Osagie’s potential, telling the club’s website, “Our recruitment team has tracked Justin for some time. He started at West Ham, then joined Celtic, but was released at the end of the season. Celtic is obviously a different level, but he trained well here and impressed.”

Ferguson admitted that at first, central defense wasn’t a top concern, but Osagie’s skill was evident. He has an excellent attitude, is quick, aggressive, and skilled with the ball. He sees the clear path we provide to the first team and is eager to sign. Although he will train regularly with the first team, he will begin with the U21s.
Osagie’s departure highlights issues with Celtic’s academy and B team setup. In recent years, the distance between Celtic’s first team and the Lowland League has grown. Young Celtic players may keep looking for competitive minutes elsewhere to advance their careers until more defined paths are established.