Celtic have moved quickly to plug their goalkeeping gap, confirming a season-long loan deal for Sam Johnstone from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 33-year-old arrives at Parkhead after a difficult final stretch at Molineux, where he lost his starting berth in December and did not feature after an FA Cup defeat to Liverpool in early March — a run of inactivity that covers the best part of six months.

Why Celtic needed cover

The necessity of the signing traces back to February, when Kasper Schmeichel — first choice since the summer of 2024 — played his final game before being forced to retire through a shoulder injury. That left Viljami Sinisalo, the Finland international, as Celtic's senior option. Johnstone now arrives to compete with Sinisalo rather than simply sit behind him, which manager Martin O'Neill made plain when confirming the deal.

"He is a quality keeper with excellent experience at the highest level," O'Neill said. "I think he will be a very good addition to our goalkeeping team."

What Johnstone brings

The numbers tell a reasonable story. Johnstone made 17 appearances for Wolves last season (albeit not the full campaign, given his December demotion) and carries Premier League pedigree earned across stints at West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace. He won four senior England caps, the last of them in 2023, so the international-level experience is genuine if not recent.

The personal sell was helped along by an unlikely source. Johnstone revealed that former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart rang him ahead of the move to vouch for the club's environment — a detail that suggests Celtic's recruitment team are leaning on alumni to smooth loan negotiations.

"I didn't need convincing by anyone," Johnstone said in his first interview with club media, "but Joe Hart rang me the other day just to reiterate what a place this is, what a great group of lads and how the fans are unbelievable."

He also cited the competitive dynamic with Sinisalo as an attraction rather than an obstacle. "Hopefully I can help Vil and he can help me, and we push each other," he added. That sort of framing — two keepers driving each other on — is the textbook answer, but it matters whether the dressing room actually functions that way. Celtic fans will watch early squad selections closely.

The Wolves angle

From Wolves' perspective, loaning Johnstone out is straightforward housekeeping. The club was relegated from the Premier League last season, and a 33-year-old third-choice keeper carries a wage that makes more sense off the books for a Championship campaign. There is no suggestion from the available information that the move is anything other than mutually convenient.

Johnstone began his career at Manchester United and has had spells at Aston Villa among other clubs, so he arrives in Glasgow as someone accustomed to big-club atmospheres — a factor O'Neill will hope translates quickly given Celtic's Champions League commitments this coming season.

Whether he starts or serves as a high-quality deputy, Celtic have at least ensured Schmeichel's absence does not leave them thin between the sticks going into a campaign where dropping points in the Scottish Premiership or exiting Europe early are not options the club consider acceptable.

Frequently asked

Why has Sam Johnstone joined Celtic?
Celtic needed goalkeeper cover after Kasper Schmeichel was forced to retire through a shoulder injury in early 2025. Johnstone joins on a season-long loan from Wolves to compete with Viljami Sinisalo.
How long is Sam Johnstone's loan at Celtic?
The deal is a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, covering the 2025-26 campaign.
What happened to Kasper Schmeichel at Celtic?
Schmeichel had been Celtic's first-choice goalkeeper since the summer of 2024 but played his last game in February before retiring due to a shoulder injury.