“I don’t see myself playing for any other team,” James Forrest

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·7 March 2026

“I don’t see myself playing for any other team,” James Forrest

James Forrest yesterday re-stated his decision not to play for any other club when his time at Celtic comes to an end as the veteran Celtic winger likes the sound of joining the likes of Billy McNeill and Paul McStay as one club Celtic legend…

However Jamesy is clearly in no rush to hang up his boots and after making a major impact with assists in the last two games against the Rangers and Aberdeen there’s every reason to believe that he’s still got enough fuel in the tank for another season at least.

Celtic faces a major re-build in the summer and that will include a new management team and a major squad rebuild. Players like James Forrest, and indeed Callum McGregor will be crucial to any hopes of this being anywhere approaching seamless and it would appear to make perfect sense to have Jamesy right side the Celtic captain to make it all happen.

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James Forrest at Pittodrie. Aberdeen v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Wednesday 4th March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

“I think, at this stage of my career, I don’t see myself playing for any other team, to be honest,” Jamesy said yesterday, as reported by Daily Mail. “I still feel good. I still like to play football. I like working hard and fighting to get a place in the team as well. I still enjoy that.

“I think the main thing now is just to focus on every game and try to help the team and then maybe have a discussion with the club at the end of the season and see what happens then.

James Forrest at Ibrox. theRangers 2 Celtic 2. Sunday 1st March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

“I definitely want to stay in the game to some capacity. It’s all I’ve ever done. It’s all I know. I love football,” James Forrest said. “I think you see that even with managers and players right now, you see a lot of players that leave after two or three years at teams. I think that’s a regular theme.

“I’ve just loved being at Celtic for so long. You go on runs in cups, you’re fighting for titles, you play in Europe and I’ve just really enjoyed it. I think the last couple of years especially, I’ve really taken it all in and just tried to enjoy it all, even the downs as well.

James Forrest in action against Kilmarnock. Kilmarnock 2 Celtic 3. Scottish Premiership. Sunday 15 February 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“I know once I finish, I’ll 100 per cent miss it and the buzz of playing and being about the lads and that as well.

“I’ve always said I’d like to stay here for as long as I can until the club tells me to go. I think the most important thing, just the way the season’s gone, is just trying to help the club as much as I can every game.

Forrest added: “We’ve still got a league and a cup we’re in as well. So, if I can play a part and help the team win something, that would be great.

Callum McGregor and James Forrest of Celtic lift the League trophy after the William Hill Premiership match between Celtic FC and St Mirren FC at Celtic Park on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“I don’t just want to train with the team and just fizzle out. I want to try and make an impact. The last couple of games, I’ve managed to do that. And, hopefully, the remaining games of the season I can maybe do that a bit more and help the team be successful.”

“I think that’s important this time of season as well. I think it’s important to keep everybody humble and level-headed and not get too carried away with one good result just because we know it’s going to go right to the wire.”

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order