Youth Development Is Becoming More Important—So Where Is Celtic’s Noise?

Something interesting is happening in Scottish football.

Youth development is starting to become a much bigger part of the conversation, and clubs are beginning to recognise that developing their own players isn’t simply about producing a nice story for supporters. It can be a genuine competitive and financial advantage.

Aberdeen’s new chief executive Adrian Bevington has been talking about the Dons being “at the heart” of discussions around getting more homegrown talent into the top flight. He has also stressed that the objective isn’t simply to play young players for the sake of it but to produce players good enough to contribute to the first team.

That is exactly the right conversation.

And it makes me wonder:

Where is Celtic’s noise?

Because Celtic should be absolutely central to this discussion.

The Scottish FA has proposed significant changes that, if approved, would require Premiership clubs to give Scotland-eligible Under-21 players an average of 60 minutes per game across the season, alongside requirements around young players starting in the Scottish Cup and League Cup. The proposals are due to be voted on in October and November, with the intention of introducing them for 2027/28.

This isn’t some fringe issue anymore.

Scottish football is openly discussing how we get more young players into senior football.

And Celtic should be leading that conversation.

Because we have an academy that has failed to produce in recent years.

We know it works though, when these players are given a chance.

James Forrest is the obvious example. He joined Celtic’s academy at nine and has gone on to become the club’s most decorated player.

But the question now is whether Celtic is doing enough to make sure the next generation actually has a pathway.

We’ve got players coming through who supporters are excited about. Colby Donovan has already shown that he can step into first-team football. Dane Murray has been spoken about as a player with international potential. Zion Pullan is making headlines at the youth level. Lucas Clearie is developing rapidly.

These aren’t just names on an academy spreadsheet.

They’re potentially valuable Celtic players.

And this is where I think the club needs to be louder.

If Aberdeen are publicly saying they want to be at the heart of Scottish youth development, I want Celtic to be saying:

We want to be at the heart of it too.

Not because we should weaken the first team.

Quite the opposite.

The Scottish FA itself is making the argument that giving young players minutes doesn’t have to come at the expense of success. Scotland’s Under-21 players accounted for just 4.1% of Premiership minutes last season, while the Scottish FA says the figure was 8% across comparable European leagues.

Celtic should be asking how we can be different.

Imagine having a pathway where an 18-year-old knows that if he performs for the B team, trains well, and proves himself, there is a genuine opportunity waiting for him.

Not a token appearance.

Not being thrown on for five minutes when we’re 4-0 up.

A genuine pathway.

And this is where the comparison with the other side of Glasgow becomes interesting.

The message coming out of Castle Greyskull, is effectively the same as the Dons.

Young goalkeeper Rydnn McGuire has signed a new contract because he says he can see a route into the first team.

That’s the important part because we don’t hear any of our youth players saying that.

Young players don’t necessarily demand to play every week.

They want to know there is a future for them.

They want to know that if they are good enough, they will get their chance.

And if Celtic cannot provide that, eventually those players will look elsewhere.

That should frighten us.

Because Celtic should be the club young Scottish players want to join and stay at.

We’ve already seen that talented players want to come to Celtic. Now we need to make sure they can see a future here.

The Scottish FA’s own youth-development review says developing high-value young players is one of the most proven models for clubs looking to achieve financial sustainability and overperform in European competition.

That should be music to Celtic’s ears.

We constantly talk about the cost of competing in Europe.

We talk about £10m signings.

We talk about replacing players who leave.

We talk about the board needing to spend more.

But imagine producing a player worth £20m, £30m, or more while also getting first-team performances from him along the way.

That is the model Celtic should be aggressively pursuing.

And I don’t want Celtic to wait until the SFA forces clubs into it.

I want Celtic to lead it.

And if they aren’t ready, loan them properly or use the new cooperation system to get them meaningful senior minutes. The Scottish FA says that system has already significantly increased opportunities for young players.

But whatever happens, don’t allow another generation to reach 19, 20, or 21 and wonder where their Celtic career is supposed to go.

Because Scottish football is starting to understand something Celtic should have understood years ago:

Youth isn’t just the future. Youth is part of the strategy.

So come on Celtic.

Let’s hear some noise.

If everyone else is starting to talk about pathways, homegrown players, and developing Scottish talent, Celtic should be leading the conversation rather than quietly watching it happen.

If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.