Donovan Signs Five-Year Contract Extension with Celtic
Young defender Colby Donovan commits to Celtic until 2031 following a period of strong form and an international call-up.
Colby Donovan has signed a new five-year contract with Celtic, extending his stay at the club until 2031. The 20-year-old defender's new deal rewards his recent performances, having become a key player for the Scottish club.
Donovan, who joined Celtic's academy and turned professional in 2022, made his senior debut in 2025. He has made 28 appearances across all competitions this past season, often deputizing for the injured Alistair Johnston at right-back. His strong form also earned him a call-up to the full Scotland squad.
"As a young boy coming through at Celtic, you strive to be a first-team player, and to think where I am now and where I was a year ago today, it’s been a rollercoaster," Donovan stated after the announcement. "I’ve loved every single minute, but it doesn’t stop now. I’m just going to keep kicking on."
He added that maintaining belief in his abilities was crucial for breaking into the first team at a club with Celtic's expectations. "You’ve got to have that belief as a young player coming through here at Celtic. You see all the signings that they bring in and it’s a top club. They expect to win every single week," he said.
Manager Martin O'Neill expressed his delight with the contract extension, calling it "fantastic news" for the club. "Although still a very young player, he has shown such maturity, strength, and resilience," O'Neill commented. "In fact, he has been exceptional for us. He has come in when we needed him, given everything for our cause, and shown what a quality player he is."
O'Neill also highlighted Donovan's positive attitude and recent international recognition. "He is a young man with a tremendous attitude and with a recent international call-up as well, he has had a phenomenal few months. I am so pleased that he sees his long-term future at Celtic."
Donovan's new deal comes amid ongoing injury concerns for regular right-back Alistair Johnston. The Canada international, who missed much of last season with hamstring issues, suffered a recurrence of the problem in August. Johnston made his return on Sunday but was forced off after just 21 minutes, raising fresh concerns about his fitness.