Top Celtic prospect Daniel Kelly signs pre-contract agreement to join Millwall

Millwall are set to pull off a major coup with highly-rated Celtic midfielder Daniel Kelly signing a pre-contract agreement to join them at the start of 2025.

The 18-year-old, who has been linked and attracted interest from big clubs in Europe, is out of contract at the end of this year.

Kelly has been on the Lions’ radar for the past 12 months and they considered a move for him in the January transfer window.

Kelly signed his first professional deal with the Scottish giants in 2022 and made his debut in a 5-0 win over Buckie Thistle in January.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers had been asked about Kelly after he was left out of their pre-season plans.

Kelly is poised to become a Millwall player on January 1 and expected to go into the first-team squad alongside the likes of Aidomo Emakhu and Adam Mayor.

“I like Daniel but he has a lot of work to do and I feel that for him and the family, this is a great place for him to be able to do that,” said Rodgers.

“You’ve got a manager who sees a talent there, who sees the physicality he has and areas he needs to brush up.

“What a great club and place this is for him to be able to do that. If that’s not enough then that’s okay, absolutely fine. It’s disappointing that it hasn’t happened because he would have had a great opportunity this pre-season.

“It’s a contract that would see him come into the first-team squad and play and perform and develop because he has a lot of development to do.

“I spoke with the agents and the player some months back to say: ‘Listen, if we can’t tidy this up by the summer, then it’s very hard to be with the team in pre-season’. It’s as simple as that.”

PICTURE: PA