Celtic announce signing of Motherwell starlet David Turnbull
Could Turnbull's arrival spell the end of Tom Rogic's time with the Scottish champions?
Celtic have announced the signing of Motherwell starlet David Turnbull on a four-year-deal.
The 21-year-old was set to move to Celtic last year, but failed a medical before undergoing a knee operation before fighting back into the Motherwell first team.
Speaking exclusively to the official Celtic website, David Turnbull said: "I'm absolutely delighted to be here, especially after what happened last year, and I'm ready to hit the ground running. I feel I've started well this season and I want to carry that on with Celtic.
"It's great to join the biggest club in Scotland and I want to help us win more silverware in what I know is an important season for Celtic."
The Youth Academy graduate leaves Fir Park after 12 years and went on to make 41 appearances for the Lanarkshire club, scoring 16 times.
Speaking to the Motherwell official club website, Turnbull said: “I want to thank everyone at Motherwell, the staff, players and the fans, for everything they’ve done for me so far in my career.
“Particularly David Henderson, who has helped me so much over the last year. I owe him so much.
“I am a Motherwell fan, so I leave with a heavy heart. But I have made memories and friends for life at a club I’ve been involved with all my life.”
While the fee has not been disclosed it reportedly exceeds the club’s previous record sale of Phil O’Donnell - also to Celtic - of £1.75 million.
With both Ryan Christie and now David Turnbull in the Celtic squad, it is expected that talisman and fan favourite Tom Rogic will move on this summer with game time under Lennon few and far between due to a lack of form, fitness and a number of injury issues. The Aussie was recently linked with a move to Qatar.
Turnbull is certainly not the finished product and if or when given game time will hopefully seize the opportunity to seal his place in the starting eleven. He will certainly add something different to the Celtic set-up and will shake things up among some players who may think they are undroppable no matter how they play.
Despite the signing, it will do little to dampen the fan outrage over Celtic’s limp second round exit from the Champions League last night. More on this later.