Celtic take goalkeeper Johnstone on loan from Wolves

WHAT HAPPENED
Celtic have taken goalkeeper Sam Johnstone on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 33-year-old arrives to challenge Finland international Viljami Sinisalo for the club's goalkeeping duties.

Johnstone last featured competitively in early March and played 17 times last season; he had lost his place in Wolves' Premier League side in December. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has welcomed him as an experienced addition to the club's goalkeeping group.

KEY CONTEXT
Kasper Schmeichel had been Celtic's first-choice keeper since the summer of 2024 but played his final game in February and subsequently retired because of a shoulder injury, leaving a vacancy in the pecking order. Johnstone began his career at Manchester United and has had spells at Aston Villa, West Brom and Crystal Palace, and he has four England caps, the most recent coming in 2023. Wolves were relegated last season.

Johnstone said he was keen to join and mentioned a phone call from Joe Hart that reinforced his view of the club and its supporters. O'Neill described him as a quality, experienced goalkeeper.

WHY IT MATTERS
Celtic add a goalkeeper with extensive top‑level experience to a squad that lost an established No.1 to retirement, increasing competition for the starting spot. Johnstone's Premier League background and international experience give Celtic an extra, immediate option between the posts as they seek to maintain standards set under their current management.

For Johnstone, the move represents an opportunity to re-establish himself after losing his Wolves starting place and a prolonged absence from match action since March.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Which goalkeeper O'Neill selects as first choice once Johnstone is match-fit and integrated with the squad.
- When Johnstone will make his competitive debut for Celtic, given he has not played since the FA Cup defeat to Liverpool in early March.
- How the club manages the goalkeeping group dynamic between Johnstone, Sinisalo and the coaching staff.

KEY FACTS
- Sam Johnstone has joined Celtic on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
- He is 33 years old and has four England caps, last earned in 2023.
- Johnstone made 17 appearances last season and lost his Wolves starting place in December.
- He has not played since Wolves’ FA Cup defeat to Liverpool in early March.
- Kasper Schmeichel had been Celtic’s No.1 since summer 2024 but retired because of a shoulder injury.