Sam Johnstone joins Celtic from Wolverhampton Wanderers on season-long loan

Celtic have signed goalkeeper Sam Johnstone on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 33-year-old has agreed to spend the season with the Scottish club after completing his move from the English side. He will join fellow English-born player Haythem Hassan, who moved to Celtic during last summer’s transfer window.

Johnstone brings extensive Premier League experience to Celtic, having previously played for Manchester United, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace.

He joined Wolverhampton Wanderers from Crystal Palace in 2024. During his time with the club, Johnstone made 27 appearances, kept three clean sheets and conceded 49 goals.

His arrival addresses a goalkeeping vacancy at Celtic following the retirement of Kasper Schmeichel. The Denmark international, who had been the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, announced that he would end his playing career at the conclusion of last season.

Johnstone has also represented England at senior level, making four appearances for the national team.

Although his career began at Manchester United, Johnstone’s route to regular first-team football included several spells elsewhere in the English game. He later played for Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2024.

Celtic’s decision to bring in a new goalkeeper followed Schmeichel’s departure from the position as the club’s established starter. Johnstone now becomes part of the squad for the coming season, with his loan deal lasting for the full campaign.

The move also means Johnstone will be team-mates with Haythem Hassan, who joined Celtic in the previous summer transfer window. The winger’s arrival was completed before Johnstone’s switch to Scotland, and the pair will now share the Celtic squad.

Johnstone’s record includes 27 matches for Wolverhampton Wanderers, during which he recorded three clean sheets. He conceded 49 goals across those appearances.

His four England caps underline his experience at international level, while his previous club career has taken him through a number of prominent English teams. Celtic will hope that background can help strengthen their goalkeeping options after Schmeichel’s decision to retire.

The deal is for one season, with Johnstone temporarily leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers to continue his career at Celtic.