ALLAN OYIRWOTH: CELTIC LINKED WITH UGANDAN PRODIGY
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Sep 26
- 2 min read
We’ve still got a little over 3 months until Celtic can sign any more players (free agents like Raheem Sterling notwithstanding!).
However, that hasn’t stopped speculation. It seems inevitable that, however the current Celtic fan protests ultimately pan out, Celtic will have to invest significantly in January, and we will probably see several players, most likely Daizen Maeda, depart.
The latest rumor though, is an interesting one, and it warrants further discussion.
Allan Oyirwoth: Celtic, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid all Linked with Ugandan International
So, who is Allan Oyirworth, Celtic’s latest reported target?
He made his international debut for Uganda at aged 16. His form earned him a move from his homeland to the United States. He has recently broken through to the first team at New England Revolution after a string of superb performances for the MLS side’s youth and reserve teams.
At 6”1, he is already a commanding and physically dominating figure in the New England midfield.
And at just 18 years old, he still has the potential to grow even more.
Of course, there’s a lot more to footballing ability than just height and physique. However, there is no denying that Celtic, in the midfield especially, have lacked that combative physicality in recent times.
Some would argue, ironically, that the last time we really had it, besides our former captain and legend Scott Brown, was another promising young central African footballer, Victor Wanyama.
He may be young, but comparatively speaking, this is already a player with a range of experience.
He was one of the star players for a Ugandan under-20 side that shocked all before them, as they surged to the final of the 2023 African Games.
This achievement, coupled with his earning the MVP award in the 2023 Ugandan National Football Championships, and subsequently making his international debut in September of that same year earned him his move to the MLS.
Many would say it is premature to pursue a player who, as of now, has only made 3 first team appearances in a league that some would consider on a par with or inferior to the Scottish Premiership.
However, that is the difference, as we learned last month between paying a few hundred thousand or over five million for a player like Sebastian Tounekti.
Celtic need to identify these players earlier, and that involves a certain degree of risk. There’s no doubt that, at such a young age, an Allan Oyirwoth Celtic move would be risky. For every James Forrest, there’s perhaps a dozen or more young prospects who don’t make it at Celtic.
However, it’s a simple choice. Take a punt of maybe £500,000 or so on this guy in January, or stand back and watch as, possibly, another team snaps him up and tries to sell him to us for maybe ten times that amount in a few years.
As cliché as it may be, I reckon he’s worth a punt in January.
