Celtic have lost one of their top youngsters to English Premier League giants Chelsea, as Somali-born Islam Feruz swaps Parkhead for Stamford Bridge.
According to our source close to Celtic’s youth setup Feruz will make the move to Stamford Bridge, and will be paid £2,500 per week in wages. He will also share a penthouse flat near the ground, paid for by the club.
A legal loophole, means that the English side can sign Feruz for a compensation fee of no more than £300,000. Feruz cannot formally sign professional terms until his 16th birthday in September, but Chelsea have stolen a march on the Parkhead side to swoop for one of Scotland’s up and coming talents.
It is a massive blow to Celtic, who helped the player and his family stay in Glasgow after fleeing war-torn Somalia in 2001. They were saved from deportation by the late Tommy Burns, who lobbied government officials.
The youngster made his first ever senior outing for Celtic in the Tommy Burns’ memorial game in 2009, where he lit up the event with his raw talent. And due to the five-year school rule, now represents Scotland despite having no Scottish bloodline.
Matty said:You can't tie a child (and at 15 that's what he is) to a contract, unfortunate for Celtic, but true. His "youth contract" isn't all that relevant if City offer him professional terms once he's old enough to sign them.
Lets face it, if we want him, and he wants to come, then it'll happen regardless of what Celtic want. We'll just have to compensate them, and this "loophole" isn't any such think, it's called complying with the existing legislation.
Black Solied said:Somalian wonderkid? LOL... :D No offence but it sounds a bit hilarious.
southern muppet said:A 15 year old is being paid £2,500 a week (£127,500 a year) ?
Neil Lennon has hit out at Islam Feruz and his agent over the teenage sensation's switch from Celtic to Chelsea.
Celtic had saved the Somalia-born Feruz and his family from deportation back to East Africa a decade ago after discovering his football talent, and moving him and his parents into accomodation in west Glasgow.
But the 16-year-old has now signed a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea worth around £2,500-a-week, causing Lennon to rage against the player's attitude, and blaming his agent for the change in character.
suhailjan5 said:what is mean by feruz in this topic?