West Ham’s Andy Irving is a player of interest for Celtic

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The Celtic Star

·12 juin 2025

West Ham’s Andy Irving is a player of interest for Celtic

Lennon Miller, as we covered yesterday on The Celtic Star, has long been reported to have interested Celtic as a transfer target and the young midfielder’s performance for Scotland on Monday night certainly caught the eye…

Lennon Miller in action against Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

However, there was another midfielder who made an impression for the national team against Liechtenstein, and it is one Celtic were very much linked with last summer and again in January.

Vidéos OneFootball

West Ham’s Andy Irving is a former Hearts player, who left the club after feeling unwanted at Tynecastle and instead moved to Germany where he ended up initially at Türkgücü München in Germany’s third tier.

Ewan Henderson of Celtic holds off Andy Irving of Hearts during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on May 19, 2019. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Irving may have initially regretted that decision as his club went out of business.

However, after a period back in Scotland and without a club, Irving switched to SK Austria Klagenfurt, where an outstanding spell in Austria, where he scored 16 goals and assisted on 14 occasions across 60 games, saw Irving catch the eye of former Hammers boss David Moyes and he ended up switching Austria for the EPL.

Andy Irving of West Ham celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during a Pre-Season Friendly match between Dagenham & Redbridge and West Ham United at Chigwell Construction Stadium on July 20, 2024. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)

David Moyes has since left the club, and his replacement Julen Lopetegui apparently scuppered Celtic’s hopes of signing Irving last summer as he was impressed by him during pre-season.

Irving then saw Lopetegui sacked and replaced by Graham Potter, and once again Celtic’s interest was knocked back, with Potter keen to see the player for himself before considering sanctioning a move on loan.

Over the course of the season however Irving has only made 10 appearances for West Ham, and it may well be that West Ham would be open to an initial loan deal for Irving given the player is now 25 and hasn’t established himself beyond being a squad player under Graham Potter.

Andy Irving of West Ham during the Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham at Stamford Bridge on February 03, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Irving is a left footed and cultured central midfielder and has the physical build and athleticism Rodgers appears to be targeting.

He can play as a number six, or further forward, but as Celtic look to succession plan for Callum McGregor, Irving could fit the bill as a rotation option initially but also a replacement as a defensive midfielder as and when Callum McGregor reduces his game-time. Have a look at this…

@tjsfootball Who is Andy Irving?! 😂 #andyirving #westham #westhamunited #coyi #bowen #football #premierleague #soccer #chelsea #pl #comeonyouirons #viral #funny ♬ original sound – TJSFootball ⚽️

Monday’s international friendly with Liechtenstein saw Irving win his first full Scotland cap having previously been a good performer through the age groups with the national team. Indeed, his debut at 25 is perhaps a bit later than would have been predicted earlier in his career, but given his career path has had more than its share of pitfalls in recent years it is perhaps excusable.

Andy Irving of Scotland during a training session at Lesser Hampden on October 08, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic have certainly shown an interest in Andy Irving over the last 12 months. Managerial changes and no doubt the players wish to try and establish himself with an EPL club, has perhaps put paid to Celtic’s interest in the last couple of transfer windows, but with a lack of game-time offered at West Ham and with an international career to consider Andy Irving has to be playing football on a regular basis.

That could mean if Celtic test the waters once again this summer, the opportunity to sign Irving may be more manageable this time around. Perhaps a loan with an option to buy would suit both West Ham and Celtic?

Niall J

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