Celtic Announce SHOCK Leigh Griffiths Extension

Updated: Sep 1, 2021

The last 24 hours have been topsy turvy to say the least in the green half of Glasgow. Yesterday social media was full of Celtic fans wishing Leigh Griffiths well and thanking him for his time at the club, it seemed as though his illustrious 7 year spell at the club was at an end.

[Leigh Griffiths battles with Shaugnessy of St. Mirren]

This is because his contract was set to expire today on the 1st of June 2021. With little to no word on a new deal even being offered it looked as though Griffthis would be away. 'Griff' had unfollowed the club on social media and removed all traces of Celtic from his various profiles. A new contract seemed incredibly unlikely.

I have to say it seemed like the perfect time for the experienced forward to depart the club. Despite his successes in Glasgow the last few seasons have been nothing if not disapointing. Griffiths has struggled for fitness and his game time has been reduced vastly.

Lets be honest; he isn't the 31 goal a season striker he was 5 years ago and I doubt he will ever hit those heights again. He has fallen further and further down the pecking order whilst also seeming to clash with just about everyone at the club whilst becoming an incrdibly devisive figure in the Celtic fanbase.

Leigh Griffiths IN

On one hand you have fans who still beleive that he CAN get back to fitness and once you have a fully fit 'Griff' you have one hell of a player and maybe just maybe he can lead the line next season. He still has something left in the tank and a player with his quality could score goals for fun if he is physically capable.

He has scored 123 goals for the club and is up there with some of the biggest names in Celtic's entire history. Should that alone be enough for another 12 months? They do say form is temporary and class is permanent.

[Leigh Griffiths celebrates with his teammates]

Leigh Griffiths OUT

Whereas on the other hand you have the Celtic fans who don't think he has it in him anymore and he has had too many chances given to him, which probably wouldn't be allowed at any other "top club". He may still be a decent option for rotation and to play in lower pressure games but can't hack being the main man anymore.

I mean lets be fair, he only managed to score 7 goals last season in 26 games. Does that deserve a new deal? Will he even come back for pre-season training in shape this time?

[Leigh has struggled for fitness and form]

The Announcement

This saga was an absolute rollercoaster. Yesterday goal compilations, goodbye messages and goodluck wishes were plastered everywhere and some fans were sad to see him go whereas some others were hollering "good riddance".

With his contract up it seemed asthough there was no way back.

Which is why today's shock contract announcement was such a surprise. At 11:49 AM Celtic caused a social media storm as they tweeted to confirm that Leigh Griffiths was going to stay in Glasgow.

[Celtic Tweet to Confirm Leigh Griffiths Extension]

You can find the official club statement detailing his extension here.

Here are a few different fans reactions to the news:

These two very seperate responses are telling. Many Celtic fans currently feel very out of touch with the club and disagree with the way it is being run and want to move forward rather than being stuck in the past, whereas some see this as a way of continuing the long standing success that they have enjoyed during his time in Glasgow.

Leigh Griffiths is a bit like marmite for Celtic fans. They either love him or they hateLeigh Griffiths him at this point and personally as an outsider looking in I can understand both points of view. Personally I would not have kept him at the club but you can never write him off. He cannot be their main striker for next campaign though because otherwise the club are playing a very dangerous game.

If you have a fit and firing Griffiths he can be your main man and you are onto a winner. If you don't, they will be in trouble.