Scottish Premiership champions Celtic have completed the signing of Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back Shane Duffy on a season-long loan. Duffy completed his medical in Dublin as he is currently on duty with the Republic of Ireland national team. Despite being a regular in his first three seasons at Brighton, he played just 19 times in the league last year.
Shane Duffy Joins Celtic on Loan
Duffy… 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 ✅🙌
📝 @FAIreland international defender, Shane Duffy has joined #CelticFC on a season-long loan! 🇮🇪
Welcome, @shaneduffy! 🤩💚
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 2, 2020
Falling Down the Pecking Order
Since the arrival of Graham Potter at the start of last season, Duffy lost his regular place in the side. New signing Adam Webster, who joined from Bristol City, was preferred at the heart of defence alongside Lewis Dunk, with Duffy having to settle for a bit-part role.
In the 2018/19 season, he scored an impressive five goals from defence in 35 appearances, and he also played a total of 37 times in Brighton’s first Premier League campaign, having arrived the season before from Blackburn Rovers to help them into the top flight.
While Duffy still possesses the qualities to play in the Premier League, it’s clear that he is not the type of centre-back that Potter wants playing in his side. With the addition of Joel Veltman from Ajax, too, Duffy would have struggled to get game time for a second season running.
Duffy ‘Can’t Wait’ to Start
Speaking to the official Celtic website about his move, Duffy said: “I really am delighted to sign this deal with Celtic. It is a huge honour for me to join Celtic, such a huge institution and a brilliant football club that I have always loved and admired
“It will be a fantastic personal moment for me when I pull on the Celtic jersey. It’s just a great feeling – I could not be happier to be part of the Club now and I just can’t wait to start working with the Manager, the staff and the players when I return from International duty with Ireland.”
Duffy joins a Celtic side who have already started their 2020/21 season. They currently sit third in the Premiership, behind leaders Rangers and second-placed Hibernian, having played two fewer games than both.
They are, however, already out of the Champions League having suffered a shock home defeat to Ferencvaros. They have dropped into the Europa League at the third qualifying round, with their opponent yet to be decided.
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