The good news keeps on coming at Celtic as AJ prepares to pen a new deal.

There’s been no shortage of good news and strong coverage in the wake of our resounding win on Tuesday night. Yet perhaps the best news since the final whistle blew has come today: the story that we’re ready to offer Alistair Johnston a brand new deal, one he’s likely to sign soon.

This is, without question, a fantastic boost for the entire club.

Few players in the squad are more deserving, and few would bring fans more joy in signing an extended deal. Since he arrived, Johnston has shown every trait you’d want in a top player. In interviews—whether with the club’s media team or externally—you see a player who is intelligent, articulate, and forceful.

There’s a hint of devilment about him, a bit of swagger, and that’s all to the good. He’s also a warrior, which is invaluable; you can never have too many fighters in a team. And it’s exactly what the club across the city is missing—and has been missing for a long time. They lack players who, when the going gets tough, are willing to dig deep, work hard, and fight for the shirt. Johnston brings that every game.

There’s been plenty of speculation about Johnston—though perhaps not as much as there was about Kuhn recently.

Talk that he might be a target for clubs elsewhere has been circulating, so it makes perfect sense to move quickly, secure him on a long-term deal, and ensure he’s with us for years to come. And beyond the money and stability, we can offer him something greater: a chance at the captaincy one day.

What makes a great captain?

This guy is vocal on and off the field, a real presence around the club, leading by example. He’s one of the most fearless players on the team. Listen to him speak, and you get a sense of someone people listen to. He’s driven by a will to win, a commitment to excellence, and a hunger for improvement. Every interview with him reinforces this. He speaks well, he speaks with ambition, and he’s exactly the kind of person we want leading the team.

Of course, none of this would matter if he weren’t also a very good footballer, and he certainly is. It takes a special kind of player to make a debut at Ibrox in a massive game and come through with flying colours. Johnston did just that, with Ange backing him fully.

The club clearly knew what kind of character they were bringing in as well as the quality of player.

It’s not a typical fan-favourite position, right-back.

It’s rarely the first place you look for one of the team’s brightest lights.

Yet Johnston has become just that. Not since Kieran Tierney has a full-back attracted so much positive attention at Celtic, though we’ve had some superb players in that time, including Jeremie Frimpong and Josip Juranovic.

He’s grown into a bit of a cult hero and a true fan favourite.

The news that we’ve started talks with him is tremendous, and it’s even better to hear that those talks are progressing well. If he signs quickly, the lift it will give the club will be enormous. We can look forward to having him here for a long time to come, and the excitement across the fanbase is palpable.