Mikey Johnston
Like James Forrest and Callum McGregor before him, Mikey Johnston is another success story of the Celtic Youth Academy.
After first joining the Hoops in 2008, then aged just nine-years-old, Johnston worked his way through the ranks all the way to the Celtic senior side – making his debut in a 4-1 home win on May 6, 2017, towards the end of the Invincibles Treble campaign.
The attacker’s first goal, on the other hand, came during a 3-0 win over Motherwell at Paradise, when he came off the bench to fire home from 18 yards with the help of the underside of the crossbar. Fellow Academy graduate Forrest provided the assist, and Johnston was delighted to get off the mark in green and white.
Mikey Johnston is another success story of the Celtic Youth Academy.
In 23 appearances, Johnston would hit another four goals during the Treble Treble trail – home braces against Dundee and Hearts, respectively – and would bag one assist along the way.
Injury hampered Johnston’s progress in 2019/20, but the winger nevertheless surpassed the previous season’s goal tally by one, having scored six times and assisted the same so far.
There was also a further unfortunate injury spell the following season when the prospect of his attacking surges, a highlight of his breakthough season, could have had a telling impact on many matches.
On December 28, 2019, Johnston extended his stay at Paradise by signing a new five-year deal that will see him remain at the club until the summer of 2025.
The 24 year old spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Vitória Guimarães where he scored 3 times in 25 appearances.
COUNTRY BHOY
Mikey Johnston has represented Scotland at all levels from Under-15s through to Under-21s. He made his debut for Scott Gemmill’s 21s on May 27, 2018, and scored his only goal so far during a 3-1 defeat to England on June 6 that same year. That game against England was in the semi-final of the Toulon Tournament, during which Johnston was named in the Best XI of the tournament - coming third in the individual awards behind Diego Lainez (Mexico) and Lewis Cook (England) who have both now gone on to play for their senior international teams.
In March 2023 he switched his allegiances and moved to play for the Republic of Ireland, who he made his debut for on 22 March 2023. He scored his first goal for Ireland during a 3–2 win against Latvia in June 2023.
