Former Celtic right-back Jeremie Frimpong has revealed that he initially didn’t want to move to the club although his brother and agent ensured the move went through.
Now a star for Bayer Leverkusen whom he joined from the Hoops in 2021, Frimpong is one of the leading full-backs in Europe. He has been a key asset for the German side who currently sit eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
The Dutchman signed for Celtic from Manchester City for a mere 380,000 euros in 2019 (Transfermarkt). Recently, though, he has admitted he didn’t want to initially join the club.
Frimpong was just 18 years of age when the move went through, but he had his hesitations. He spoke to Rising Ballers: “I packed to go to Celtic”, quipped the youngster.
“I said to my agent and the driver, let’s turn round, I don’t want to go no more.”
Despite this uncertainty, Frimpong’s agent buckled down and ensured the deal got done. He said: “My agent was stressing, he was so stressed.
“He was like, Jeremie you don’t understand this opportunity, like this is life-changing, this is first-team, this is Celtic – big history, they play Champions League.”
Fortunately for the Hoops, the electric full-back eventually made the move North of the border. His signing was announced on transfer deadline day, with Neil Lennon delighted to secure Frimpong’s services.
The manager who sealed nine-in-a-row and the quadruple treble gave the now 23-year-old his first chance in senior football and as well as his agent, Frimpong’s brother urged him to join Celtic: “My brother text me, he was on the phone”, he said.
“He was like, ‘Yo, Jeremie, forget about your friends, I understand how you’re feeling but you said you wanted to be a footballer and there comes a time in your life where you have to leave your friends and you have to sacrifice a lot, even your family, and it starts now, your journey starts now’.
“When he said that, I was like ‘Okay, we are going’.”
Frimpong and Celtic will be forever thankful he took the advice of those closest to him. The youngster’s move to Glasgow put him firmly on his way in the professional game where he is now undoubtedly a world-star.
