A Parkhead Academy graduate has witnessed a 5,567% increase in value.

The central midfielder has made a name for himself with the first squad.

Over the years, Glasgow’s academy system has helped Celtic develop a number of brilliant young players who have bolstered their first-team roster.

While supporters may want to see brand-new additions arrive at the club every transfer window, the team must also provide a route for promising young players to advance to the senior squad.

Even though Brendan Rodgers added nine new first-team players during the summer transfer window, his squad already includes players like Callum McGregor, Stephen Welsh, and Anthony Ralston, who all came up through the ranks.

Prior to the 2023–24 season, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Hyun-jun Yang, Maik Nawrocki, Nat Phillips, Marco Tilio, Paulo Bernardo, and Odin Thiago Holm all joined.

But if Rodgers is ready to give them an opportunity to stand out in the senior team, maybe they won’t stand in the way of Parkhead’s next big thing.

Ronny Deila, the manager of Celtic, was one person who was not afraid to use youth, as the Norwegian had great success with Callum McGregor in the center of midfield.

Where did McGregor’s career begin?
The Paradise midfield wizard advanced through the U17 and U20 teams before receiving his first opportunity to play regularly for the main squad while on loan with Notts County in England.

He made the most of his time while on loan during the 2013–14 season, making 41 games across all leagues and contributing with 14 goals and one assist.

McGregor shown his capacity to have a large effect at the top end of the play from a center midfield position by tallying 12 goals in 37 League One appearances for County.

The Scottish wonder had a strong debut season as a senior player, gaining crucial experience that prepared him well for his breakthrough season with Celtic.

Transfermarkt estimated his market value at just €150k (£130k) at the end of his loan because he had only played up to that point in English football’s third level.

McGregor made his Celtic debut when?
Deila, who joined Celtic in the summer of 2014, decided to trust McGregor as a result of the 21-year-old’s successful tenure with Notts County.

In a Champions League qualifying match against KR Reykjavk in July 2014, he gave the young midfielder his first-team debut for the Hoops. The academy graduate played the entire 90 minutes and scored

the match’s lone goal.

Although the Bhoys were unable to advance past the group rounds of Europe’s top cup tournament, the Scottish star did make a contribution by scoring three goals and providing one assist in six matches that served as qualifiers.

After that, McGregor played 17 times in the Scottish Premiership during the 2014–15 season, contributing from midfield with two goals and two assists.

After his success in the Champions League qualifying rounds, he did not, however, create a single goal or assist in five games during the Europa League group stage.

How often has McGregor played for Celtic?
Since receiving his debut from Deila nine years ago, the 30-year-old star has gone on to make an incredible 428 first-team appearances for Celtic in all competitions.

Over the course of almost a decade, he established himself as a key member of the team, and he continues to be one of the top players in the first-team lineup as the center midfielder seeks out more titles to add to his collection.

The seasoned pro, who earlier this year signed a new five-year deal, has amassed an incredible 20 awards with the club, including five domestic trebles, which the team says is a global record for any player in football.

His best Celtic season to date may have been the one in which he won the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award, demonstrating that his teammates thought he was the best player in the division at the time.

Ange Postecoglou gave McGregor the captain’s armband at the beginning of the season, and he excelled in midfield both in and out of possession.

He attracted attention with 1.4 critical passes, 2.2 tackles and interceptions combined per game, and an average Sofascore rating of 7.13. According to WhoScored, only three players with at least five appearances made more crucial passes and none made more tackles (1.5) per game than the captain.

The Hoops captain made an impact at both ends of the field and was honored with the Player of the Year title for his outstanding play. He was incredibly reliable in possession with a pass success percentage of 90%.

What is McGregor currently valued at?
When this article was written, Transfermarkt

value McGregor at €8.5 million (£7.3 million), up a startling 5,567% from the initial €150 thousand that he was estimated to be worth prior to the 2014–15 season.

Deila therefore struck gold by releasing the young midfielder into the first team following his stellar loan stint with Notts County, and this is a good illustration of why it’s critical for managers to be ready to rely on academy players when the talent is there.

Celtic’s most valuable academy products
Player	Market value (via Transfermarkt)
Aaron Hickey	£21.5m
Kieran Tierney	£21.5m
Callum McGregor	£7.3m
Jack Hendry	£2.5m
Ben Doak	£2.5m

McGregor, who is currently one of the most prized Celtic academy products in the game, is showing no signs of slowing down.

The 30-year-old maestro has just under five years left on his current contract with the Scottish giants, and there will be much more from the Scotland international over the upcoming seasons, including appearances, trophies, goals, and more.

He was described as “irreplaceable” by his previous manager, Postecoglou, and it still seems to be the case as Rodgers has started him in each of the club’s seven league games so far this season.

To emphasize his significance to the Hoops and maybe boost his market value even more, McGregor should enjoy another prosperous season at Parkhead and demonstrate the advantages of releasing academy athletes at the appropriate moment.