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Tom Rogic, Nir Bitton to leave Celtic at end of season

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 13 May 2022

Scottish Premiership champions Celtic announce that midfielders Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton will both be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Scottish Premiership champions Celtic have announced that Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Both midfielders are two of the longest-serving players in the current first-team squad and will be departing the Hoops after nearly 10 years with the club.

Rogic, 29, arrived at Parkhead from Australian outfit Central Coast Mariners in January 2013 and has since gone on to record 46 goals and 49 assists in 271 games across all competitions.

Thirty-year-old Bitton, meanwhile, arrived in Glasgow from Israeli side Ashdod seven months after Rogic, and has since played 270 times for the Hoops in all tournaments, scoring 15 goals and providing 16 assists.

Both players have won 34 domestic trophies combined during their time at Celtic, including this season's Scottish Premiership title, which the Hoops clinched on Wednesday following a 1-1 draw at Dundee United.

Speaking to Celtic's official website, Rogic said: "I want to sincerely thank everyone at the club and all our supporters for everything that has been given to me while I have been at Celtic. It has been a phenomenal journey, with some magical moments – it has been an honour to be a part of this experience.

Celtic's Tom Rogic celebrates scoring their third goal on February 6, 2022 © Reuters

"It has been a privilege to play for the Celtic supporters, the best in football I have ever experienced and the great times I have been part of will stay with me forever.

"While I am so sad to leave, I feel so proud to be part of a team that has delivered the title again for our fans. The club is in a great position and I know the manager will take the club on and deliver more and more success.

"Celtic will always be in my heart and part of my life and I wish the club and our fans nothing but success for the future."

Bitton added: "When I came to Celtic I never thought I would be part of such exciting times and it truly has been amazing to be part of such a great club.

"I have worked with some great managers and teammates and I thank them all for those times and all we achieved together."

Nir Bitton during a Celtic training session on November 7, 2018 © Reuters

"We have dominated the game here for so long and now this year as champions we have done it again, something us as players and supporters we should all be really proud of.

"After a season of real hard work, when many never gave us a chance, we are champions again – the whole squad, manager and our staff were determined to deliver this to our fans.

"I want to thank everyone at the club and our fans for the support I have received during my time at Celtic and I wish the club absolute success for the future."

While both Rogic and Bitton will be leaving at the end of the season, James Forrest has put pen to paper on a three-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until June 2025, and head coach Ange Postecoglou has also confirmed that the Hoops plan to take up the option to make Daizen Maeda's loan deal from Yokohama F. Marinos permanent this summer.