---
title: "Celtic: Fans show love for Nir Bitton amid exit speculation"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-fans-show-love-for-nir-bitton-amid-exit-speculation/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Caleb Sage"
section: "SPFL News"
published: "2019-12-02T16:10:04Z"
modified: "2019-12-02T16:10:04Z"
---

# Celtic: Fans show love for Nir Bitton amid exit speculation

**As things stand, Nir Bitton could be leaving Celtic at the end of the season.**

The 28-year-old, who signed for the Glasgow club from FC Ashdod back in 2013, will be a free agent next summer.

\[freshpress-poll id=”262801″\]

Manager Neil Lennon, though, is keen for Bitton to put pen to paper on a new deal and extend his stay at Celtic Park. “We don’t want him to go, we want him to stay, so talks are on-going,” the former Celtic player was quoted as saying by [The Scotsman](https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/neil-lennon-in-talks-to-keep-nir-bitton-at-celtic-1-5054956).

And all things considered, it is not hard to see why Lennon is eager to keep hold of the Israel international.

Bitton has been a good servant for Celtic since arriving from Israel. He has made just under 200 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, according to [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nir-bitton/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/129788), scoring 12 goals and assisting another 14.

As well as that, Bitton has also shown his versatility, playing in both [midfield and defence](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nir-bitton/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/129788/plus/0?saison=&verein=371&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=3&trainer_id=) for the SPFL champions, giving Lennon another reason for wanting to keep hold of him.

And it is a sentiment that Celtic fans may also share, with some taking to Twitter to show how much they appreciate the player…

https://twitter.com/K9Dug/status/1201445829510402049?s=20

> Great squad player to have, never any complaining just gets on with it when asked and plays anywhere
>
> — Chris Canney (@canney\_chris) [December 2, 2019](https://twitter.com/canney_chris/status/1201449139873210368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> he is quality
>
> — Anthony Harris טוני הריס (@harrisanthonys) [December 2, 2019](https://twitter.com/harrisanthonys/status/1201414723322990592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Hope he stays!!
>
> — Gavvy Bolingoli (@gavb\_67) [December 2, 2019](https://twitter.com/gavb_67/status/1201439266280267777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Surely he has to play more,give brown and McGregor some rest
>
> — tam kerr (@TamZander5911) [December 2, 2019](https://twitter.com/TamZander5911/status/1201442103986917376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Sign him up!!!
>
> — Dave (@DavidHannan9) [December 2, 2019](https://twitter.com/DavidHannan9/status/1201412952710172672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)