Alistair Johnston, a sprightly Canadian defender, was born on 8 October 1998, which makes him a sturdy 26 years of age. A specialist right back, Johnston has been showcasing his talent at Celtic, where he's praised for his agility and precision in maintaining the team's defensive line. He stands at a robust 5ft 10in (1.8m) and weighs in at a robust 12st 1lb (77kg). When Johnston takes to the field, you'll spot him wearing the number 2 jersey, a digit he proudly shares with other Celtic legendary right backs.
Johnston's skills haven't just caught the admiration of Celtic fans; he's also been a steady presence on the international stage, representing Canada with aplomb. His footballing prowess is reflected in his current market value of €8.50m, which according to Transfermarkt, equates to approximately £7.5m. His Celtic contract is set to keep him at the club until 31st December 2027, solidifying a strong backbone for the team's defence.
Prior to his stint with Celtic, Johnston started his professional journey stateside. In February 2020, he joined Nashville in the MLS, making a respectable 18 first team appearances in his debut season. He bettered his record the following season with 26 appearances and his maiden goal. His performances attracted the attention of CF Montreal, resulting in an undisclosed transfer deal in December 2021. At Montreal, Johnston continued to impress, with 33 first team appearances and 4 goals.
In January 2023, Johnston made the substantial switch from the American MLS to the Scottish Premiership, signing with Celtic for a fee hovering around £3m. It was at Celtic where he really stamped his name on the footballing map. In his first season (2022 - 2023), he made 14 appearances and etched his name on the scoresheet once. His second season saw 32 appearances and a similar number of goals, but it's been his current season (2024 - 2025), that has captured the most attention. Johnston has already made 11 appearances and notched up four goals, a promising start to the current season.
Beyond domestic football, Johnston has represented Celtic in the Champions League during the 2023 - 2024 and 2024 - 2025 seasons, with six and four starts respectively. On the national front, he has played in Copa America 2024 for Canada, where he made six starts. Add to this his participation in domestic cups - proving his mettle in the Scottish Cup 2023 - 2024 with four starts, and the League Cup 2024 - 2025 with two starts. Johnston's impressive career trajectory has been mirrored by performances on both a domestic and international scale, affirming his status as a formidable footballer and a worthy Celtic player.
