Kelechi Iheanacho Wins First Top-Flight League Title as Celtic Clinch Scottish Premiership

Kelechi Iheanacho’s debut season in Glasgow has culminated in a Scottish Premiership title with Celtic, delivering the Nigerian forward his first top-flight league championship and ending what he described as a prolonged absence from the winner’s circle.

The 29-year-old came off the bench during the title-deciding match against Hearts, contributing to a victory that secured the championship for the Hoops. Speaking to Sky Sports in the immediate aftermath, a visibly emotional Iheanacho was photographed hauling the Premiership trophy on his shoulder. “It feels good. It feels so good, I can’t let go of this trophy,” he said.

Reflecting on the tension of the occasion, Iheanacho acknowledged the pressure the squad faced going into the decisive fixture. “It was a big tension, and it’s a massive pressure, but we know what to do today, and we did it,” he told reporters. “They were a very strong side, but God of Soccer was on our side today.”

The title represents a significant personal landmark for the Super Eagles striker. Across 23 appearances in all competitions during his debut campaign at Celtic Park, Iheanacho registered nine goal contributions, including critical goals that helped drive the club toward the title.

His last taste of major top-flight silverware came five years prior at Leicester City, where he was part of the squad that won the 2020/21 FA Cup and the 2021 FA Community Shield. The years between those triumphs and Saturday’s celebrations in Glasgow were largely defined by disappointment, with short-lived and underwhelming stints at Sevilla and Middlesbrough failing to reignite his career.

“It’s another silverware for me. I haven’t won any silverware in a while, so I’m happy winning with this massive club,” Iheanacho said, capturing the personal significance of the achievement.

The Scottish Premiership title marks a tangible career resurgence for Iheanacho, who had faced questions about his form and direction following those difficult spells in Spain and England. His performances in Scotland have gone some way to restoring his standing as a reliable contributor at the top level of European club football.

For Celtic, the title adds to the club’s sustained dominance of Scottish football in recent years. The result against Hearts served as the culmination of a title race that, according to the scenes at Celtic Park, carried considerable weight for players and supporters alike.