---
title: "Celtic: Liam Burt signs two-year deal with Hoops"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-liam-burt-signs-two-year-deal-with-hoops/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "SPFL News"
published: "2019-08-07T19:10:29Z"
modified: "2019-08-07T19:10:29Z"
---

# Celtic: Liam Burt signs two-year deal with Hoops

**Celtic announced the signing of 20-year-old attacking midfielder Liam Burt yesterday evening on a two-year deal with the club.**

[CelticFC.net](https://www.celticfc.net/news/16602) confirmed that the free agent, who was previously with Rangers, will initially be part of Tommy McIntyre’s reserve team squad.

The report on [CelticFC.net](https://www.celticfc.net/news/16602) added that the [Scotland under-21 international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liam-burt/profil/spieler/297241) could then forge his way into the first-team reckoning at Celtic Park.

Burt has not taken long to make his mark for Celtic’s reserve side, [scoring the winning penalty in their Challenge Cup shoot-out win over Queen’s Park last night](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-rangers-winger-liam-burt-18854770).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Burt may be an ex-Rangers player but it’s worth noting that Celtic was his first club at youth level, having [made the switch to their Glasgow rivals upon being released by the Hoops in 2015](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/6828272/Rangers-to-fend-off-Celtic-swoop-for-youngster-Liam-Burt.html).

He was unable to make the grade at Ibrox, where he featured in only [three first-team games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liam-burt/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/297241), and was dispatched on loan to [Dumbarton](https://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=3446) and [Alloa](https://www.alloaathletic.co.uk/BlogView.aspx?pageid=2&ItemID=1828&mid=2).

He registered [a goal and an assist in 19 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liam-burt/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/297241) for the former in 2017/18, helping them to reach the [Scottish Championship play-offs](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liam-burt/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/297241).

He then featured [10 times on loan at Alloa](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liam-burt/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/297241) last season, although he was [unable to find the net or provide an assist](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liam-burt/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/297241), with Rangers [releasing him in May](https://rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/five-to-depart-academy/).

Burt is an adaptable attacking midfield player who is [equally comfortable playing through the middle as he is on either flank](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liam-burt/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/297241).

A scout report on [Soccersouls](https://soccersouls.com/why-this-19-year-old-prodigy-could-be-a-key-player-for-steven-gerrards-rangers-next-season/) described him as a “[technically gifted](https://soccersouls.com/why-this-19-year-old-prodigy-could-be-a-key-player-for-steven-gerrards-rangers-next-season/)” player who is “[brilliant with the ball at his feet](https://soccersouls.com/why-this-19-year-old-prodigy-could-be-a-key-player-for-steven-gerrards-rangers-next-season/)“, adding that he is “[very much capable of taking on defenders with his excellent control of the ball.](https://soccersouls.com/why-this-19-year-old-prodigy-could-be-a-key-player-for-steven-gerrards-rangers-next-season/)”

His pathway to the Celtic first-team appears a lengthy one at this moment, however. Neil Lennon already has [Tom Rogic, Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/startseite/verein/371) as attacking midfield options, while James Forrest has made the right-sided role his own given his [18 goals last season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/371/reldata/%262018/plus/1) and status as [PFA Scotland Player of the Year](https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/17659658.celtic-winger-james-forrest-completes-personal-treble-by-winning-ladbrokes-premiership-player-of-the-year//).

On the left-hand side, [Scott Sinclair and Mikey Johnston](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/startseite/verein/371) are standing in Burt’s way. However, the ex-Rangers man could take inspiration from Johnston, who impressed sufficiently for Celtic’s youth sides to earn his place in the first-team squad, for whom he has since made [31 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mikey-johnston/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/297257).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

For an attacking midfielder, Burt’s scoring record ought to be better. A return of just one goal and one assist from 29 appearances with second-tier Dumbarton and Alloa does not suggest that he would be prolific at Premiership level.

Time is still very much on his side to improve, however, and Burt now has a golden opportunity to show Rangers that they were wrong to let him go. The likes of Johnston and [Kieran Tierney](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kieran-tierney/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/300716) have shown that players can emerge from the youth and reserve ranks at Celtic to make a name for themselves at first-team level, so Burt just needs to prove his worth for McIntyre’s squad for now.

If he can manage that, Lennon may give him some introductory first-team minutes later in the season and then perhaps elevate him into the first team squad altogether.

***Celtic fans, what do you think of ex-Rangers man Burt returning to the Hoops? Can he make the grade for Celtic? Comment below with your views!***