Celtic are set to lose another highly-rated academy prospect, with transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reporting that Erskine Rennie has agreed a move to Fulham.
The 16-year-old winger is understood to have chosen the Premier League side despite attracting interest from several clubs across England and Europe. According to Romano, Rennie will sign a long-term contract at Craven Cottage.
⚪️⚫️🏴 Excl: Fulham agree deal to sign 16-year-old talented winger Erskine Rennie from Celtic.
Rennie picked #FFC ahead of a number of English and European clubs and will join on a long-term contract. pic.twitter.com/JMjvzsgSwI
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 11, 2026
Posting on X, Romano wrote:
“Fulham agree deal to sign 16-year-old talented winger Erskine Rennie from Celtic.
“Rennie picked FFC ahead of a number of English and European clubs and will join on a long-term contract.”
Rennie has been regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Celtic’s academy. After progressing through the youth ranks, he marked his B-team debut against Cumbernauld Colts in February with a goal, becoming the youngest scorer in Lowland League history.
His departure continues a trend of elite young talent attracting interest from elsewhere. Winger Zion Pullan, who received a Spain youth call-up earlier this year, has also been linked with a move away after reports of interest from Athletic Club, while defender Dara Jikiemi recently completed his transfer to Liverpool following lengthy negotiations.
Earlier this year, Martin O’Neill stressed the importance of ensuring a pathway exists for academy graduates, insisting promising youngsters should be given every opportunity to break into the first team.
“If I was here, I’d like to make room for younger players coming through.
“Myself and Fozzy [Mark Fotheringham] went to watch the B team. They played Brentford last Tuesday at Barrowfield and some of the younger lads, I know they’re not of the age at this minute, they are really impressive.
“So it is a balancing act of trying to be strong, still strong, and hopefully that these players can come through in the next couple of years.
“Because that would be lovely, that would be really nice to see young boys who’ve got the club at heart, who’ve maybe been in the academies here since they were about 12 or 13 to come through. And we’ve got one or two lads.
“It was an under-18s or 19s game against Brentford, but it was very impressive, both sides. So that was really good.
“I think we should have an eye on that, and not stifle young talent coming through, particularly here because Scottish football needs it.”
HAVE YOUR SAY – Join the Celtic conversation in our comments section below…
Quick Tip – Add Celticshorts.com as your ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the Celtic content you value the most. It takes just a few seconds and you’ll notice the difference straight away! – Click HERE….Hail Hail!
1 Comment
This trend of our club, losing it’s youngsters will continue, all the while the current structure of Scottish football remains in place imo?
The gap between lowland league and our 1st team, is ridiculous, size wise, with nothing in between?
We should be allowed to have a 2nd team in the lower leagues of Scottish football?
But as these Diddy clubs are given the voting rights to go against such a proposal, then Scottish football will remain in the dark ages, simple as that imo?
The Scottish FA, remains content in allowing other leagues, to form the national team. So no real interest in developing players within Scotland and the use of Scottish football whatsoever?
Couldn’t care less about Scottish teams having to try and compete within European football, with forming a 25man squad, for which 8 have to be homegrown players?
Is it any wonder the coefficient is dropping like a brick for Scottish teams?
The solution should be fairly simple, with ourselves operating a proper B team in the Scottish leagues?
A team that could only get to the maximum levels of the championship, but won’t be eligible for the 2 Cup competitions, but the players would be, if available for selection?
Even the age limit could be regarded as u21, but room available for 3 overaged players, within there match day squads?
Allows for players returning from injury from our 1st team squad, and a much better pathway formed for potential youngsters as a result imo?
Such a team, could and should be set up in the same manner as our 1st team, in order to make that transition far easier to be applied?
Instead of this nonsense of trying to impress in a couple of pre season friendlies?
Consistency is a massive factor for any youngsters to overcome, especially with the demands that exists within our club.
But without any real form of any development programme in operation within Scottish football, is it any wonder these youngsters are looking elsewhere?
Yet, we are the only club in Scottish football, who can afford to invest into such a potential opportunity?
As its being denied by these Diddy clubs, despite them prepared to take our youngsters on loan, at a financial cost to ourselves possibly?
Is way beyond a joke, with the overall structure of Scottish football?
Annoys me hugely, that our board isn’t prepared to tackle the issue whatsoever?
So if the Scottish FA aren’t prepared to address this issue, then i believe that, our club needs to find another league that actually takes this situation seriously imo?
These clubs within the bigger leagues, addressed the problems years ago, that the 8 homegrown quota requirements rule brings with it, for European competitions?
Also, the mindset involves, that 1 player coming through an academy, pays for itself, on the fee saved for such a player?
The elite clubs can even run a profit on producing players, with fees raised from selling them eventually, even if not successful within there choosen academy?
Scottish football ignores the situation, and we are depriving youngsters a potential career opportunity as a result imo?
Looking to make headway within European competition, is going to remain a hit and miss approach, all the while this situation remains unchallenged, especially as it accounts for nearly a third of a European squad that has to get formed imo?
B listed players, playing lowland league football, is just an utter embarrassment, within European football.
But Scottish football still believes that’s OK?
Maybe these eejits involved within the Scottish FA, can say how you actually develop youngsters, if no actual game time is available within there club, after a certain age?
Ridiculous and embarrassing situation exists within Scottish football, and worse that our own club isn’t prepared to tackle the situation either imo?