Jahmai Simpson-Pusey reveals the Celtic dream Brendan Rodgers sold him
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey insists he didn't think twice about joining Celtic after a long sitdown with Brendan Rodgers.
The Manchester City defender, 19, checked into Parkhead on Tuesday after rubber-stamping a season-long loan deal.
Simpson-Pusey - who has been handed the No.4 jersey - will compete for a start alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers at the heart of the Hoops defence.
And the talented youngster has immediately set his sights on winning silverware and starring on the European stage.
He told Celtic TV: 'It's great to be here. It's such a big club and I'm happy to come here, play in front of the fans and play for the team.
"I had a big, long conversation with the manager.
"I liked what he was saying to me about the club, how much he appreciates the club and how much Glasgow appreciates the club.
"I felt like I'd want to go somewhere where if I'm playing, I want to be appreciated.
"I just felt like it was the best option for me.
"It's a big opportunity. I feel like I want to come here and show my talent and show my levels.
"It would be good for me to come and hopefully help the team to win the league again and do well in the European Cups."
The England youth international skippered Man City's Under-21s to title glory last season and was crowned Premier League 2 Player of the Year.
Simpson-Pusey made his first appearance for City's top team against Celtic in last summer's USA tour.
Hailed by Pep Guardiola as the future of City's defence, the teen racked up six competitive appearances - including a Champions League debut away to Sporting CP.
And he believes the experience of playing with Man City's superstars will prove invaluable during his time in Glasgow.
He said: "100 per cent. I feel like going from academy football to first team football and even just training with them every day, it changes your way of thinking about the game and it makes you 100 times more sharper.
"I'm over the moon, really. I just want to come in here and get some minutes."
As a ball-playing centre-half, JSP revealed he models his game on John Stones
He added: "Even from when I played my first game with him, I felt very comfortable with him. Watching him growing up, he's just a very composed top player."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
13 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Slovan Bratislava boss suffers touchline meltdown as hopes of landing jackpot Celtic clash left looking bleak
Vladimir Weiss is in hot water with UEFA after a furious outburst with the officials Slovan Bratislava's chances of setting up a Champions League play-off showdown with Celtic are already looking bleak after their third round first leg qualifying defeat to Kairat Almaty. And the Slovakian league champions will now have to try and overturn the deficit next week without their manager on the touchline after he saw red for berating the match officials. Despite playing the final 25 minutes with 10 men after Rahim Ibrahim was sent off, Slovan looked set to claim a valuable 0-0 draw in Kazakhstan until the last minute of the game, where Dastan Satpaev stepped up to bag the winner from 12 yards after Kairat were awarded a penalty kick. And boss Vladimir Weiss Snr - who's son and former Rangers midfielder Vladimir Weiss Jr captains his team - couldn't hide his fury at the performance of the officials. The livid Czech coach stormed onto the pitch to give match referee Serdar Gozubuyuk a mouthful, to which the Turkish whistler quickly responded by giving Weiss a second yellow card. The veteran boss reacted by marching towards the fourth official on the touchline to let rip with another tirade before he was ushered away by a member of his coaching team. UEFA regulations dictate that Weiss will now serve a one-game touchline ban in the return fixture in Bratislava next Tuesday, with his side needing to score at least once without reply to force extra-time. However, the severity of his dismissal could see the Champions League' s governing body hand out further punishment which could prevent Weiss leading his team from the side-line if they were to overturn the deficit and progress to the play-off round. Brendan Rodgers' Hoops await the winners of the tie later this month for a place in the money-spinning league phase of Europe's most prestigious competition. The Hoops will play host at Parkhead in the first leg on August 19/20 with the the return fixture away from home then comes six days later. The side that loses over two legs will drop into the revamped group section of the Europa League, giving them a guarantee of continental football until next January at the earliest. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic page and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. here.
Scottish Sun
13 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Chelsea rocked by disappearance of £30,000 worth of equipment from Blues' Cobham training ground
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHELSEA have been rocked by the disappearance of £30,000 of camera equipment from their training ground. The Blues called Surrey Police after the gear was reported missing from their Cobham HQ. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Police were called to Chelsea's training ground this week Credit: GETTY 3 The Blues rang the old bill after over £30,000 worth of camera equipment went missing Credit: GETTY Play Dream Team now! Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season Free to play Over £100,000 in total prize money Play in Mini Leagues against your mates Submit a team for Gameweek 1 to enter £5,000 prize draw Play via Dream Team's app or website today! It remains unclear whether the hi-tech video equipment has just been mislaid and will come to light once all staff have returned from holiday. But the incident is suspicious enough for the club to have involved the police. Top football clubs like the world champion Blues make extensive use of video footage from training and matches to help players' physical, technical, tactical and mental performance. Chelsea declined to comment about the timing and circumstances of the discovery that the equipment was not where it should be. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS 'Sell him at half time' Arsenal fans demand struggling star be AXED after shocking display But if a crime has been committed, it won't be the first in the leafy Surrey suburbs to affect the club. A number of Chelsea players have been the victims of break-ins at their mansions near the club's training base. Raheem Sterling's home was targeted in December 2022 while he was with England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with a group of burglars stealing £300,000 of designer watches. Sterling flew home from the tournament to comfort his family before returning to the Middle East. SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN 3 Albanian Emiliano Krosi was later jailed for more than 11 years for his part in the raid and 32 other burglaries across the South East. Sterling was the fourth Chelsea player to have his home burgled in a relatively short space of time. Drake hints Cole Palmer is inspiration behind his new album name as he shares brilliant video of Chelsea star Current club captain Reece James slammed the 'cowardly thieves' who broke into his house in December 2021 while he was playing for the Blues in the Champions League. The burglars got away with a safe that contained James' medal from Chelsea's Champions League win of that year, as well as the Euro 2020 runners-up medal he earned with England. At least two other unnamed Chelsea players were understood to have suffered similar experiences around the same time
Daily Mirror
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
What Benjamin Sesko arrival means for four Man Utd stars as Newcastle beaten to transfer
Benjamin Sesko appears to have chosen Manchester United over Newcastle United and his arrival at Old Trafford could have a big impact on several new team-mates Benjamin Sesko is heading to Manchester United after snubbing Newcastle United, a decision that sees the Slovenian forgo an opportunity to play in this season's Champions League. And while that should be seen as a coup for Old Trafford decision-makers, evidence that despite their decade of decline they remain a bigger draw than a side that finished in the top five last season, it is a huge blow for the Toon who still fear the sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool. But there are also knock-on effects for the dressing room Sesko is heading towards in the north west with his impending arrival set to alter the roles of team-mates - and leave the future of at least one star in serious jeopardy. Here is how United's latest arrival could impact Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee plus new arrivals Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Rasmus Hojlund After two frustrating seasons in which he has struggled to score consistently with the confidence draining slowly from him, speculation for much of the summer to date has surrounded the Denmark striker being sold. Sesko's arrival will increase the likelihood of that happening significantly with United willing to accept a fee in the range of half the £72m they paid Atalanta for Hojliund in the summer of 2023. A number of Serie A sides have been linked but no interest has translated into a formal offer yet. Hojlund himself is determined to transform his fortunes and was unfazed about transfer speculation with the likes of Sesko: "I think my plan is very clear and that's for me to stay and fight for my spot, whatever happens." Joshua Zirkzee Injury problems may have hindered an average debut season at the club but he does have the size and skillset that could provide Ruben Amorim with scope to mix things up. Expect him to be an impact sub behind Sesko, which may see the pressure be taken off the big Dutchman and United fans will hope that can allow him to play with a bit more freedom when given the opportunity. Matheus Cunha The Brazil star thrived cutting in from the wing while at Wolves and Sesko being the central member of the front three will surely bring the best out of Cunha. He linked up impressively with Jorgen Strand Larsen as the middleman at Molineux and Amorim will expect similar with Sesko. Bryan Mbeumo United's other big summer arrival is in a similar boat to Cunha. At Brentford last season he spent a lot of time operating more centrally but arguably his best work in West London came when providing more width, stretching opposition defences and simultaneously hurting them himself by switching inside or ensuring more space for his team-mates to thrive.
