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'Craziest experience' of MLS draft seems a lifetime ago, says 5-year deal Johnston
"It wasn’t a difficult decision,” said Alistair Johnston. After all, with three years left on his current deal in Glasgow’s east end, extending the 26-year-old’s contract until 2029 probably wasn’t a priority – for the club or the player.
It’s actually hard to believe this man made his debut in Scottish football in January of last year.
He’s been so ubiquitous in Celtic’s success since, lifting five trophies under two managers, netting six goals, providing 14 assists for his team-mates, and even donning the captain’s armband on occasion.
Despite passing through the Parkhead gates less than two years ago, he already feels like part of the woodwork.
“Once the talks got going, I made it pretty clear to my agent that is what I wanted to do,” Johnston added.
“The club made it clear that they valued me and they wanted to get it done as a priority.
“That was from the get-go for them and it’s what you want to hear from your employer. It was nice to see that and the fans seem happy too.
“They were clamouring for it and I kept getting asked about it for the last three months.
“They kept saying, ‘When are you signing and I said, ‘l’ll sign when there is something to sign’.
“It was a good day when that all transpired.”
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Johnston may well stay put for the next five years, but, thinking cynically, a long-term deal ultimately means if teams further afield fancy his services down the line, ascertaining them will cost them big money.
Matters off the pitch, however, suggest the Canadian is settled. He proposed to his girlfriend this year in St Andrews, and recently welcomed a puppy into the family.
From the outside looking in, Johnston has planted roots that could even keep him in Scotland well beyond 2029.
It’s early days yet, but to that end, could Johnston see himself spending the rest of his career at Celtic?
“That is a great question,” he said. “I am not that far-sighted but if you could stand the test of time and the demands at Celtic, that would be unbelievably special.
“Only really a handful of guys can go out and do that – Callum McGregor and James Forrest are among the most decorated and legendary players here.
“It’s not often that happens but we will see. I have five more years and hopefully I can do well enough that I can think of an extension down the line again.”
All of this moves in stark contrast to Johnston’s formative steps in football.
In 2020, the full-back found himself in the throes of the MLS draft – a lottery-inspired process perhaps more closely associated with other big-budget US sports, such as basketball and American football.
At a moment’s notice, being selected by one team could mean upping sticks and travelling the length of the country – or further if you end up based in Canada – in order to continue making a living in the sport you love.
Johnston added: “That was honestly one of the craziest experiences because that night they’d actually set up a camera crew at my house and were filming it.
“There was a producer from the draft who had a 20-second head start on what was going on. I could see that he had every single team’s scarf lined up. Before I even know who’d made the pick, he’d take that team’s scarf away.
“So I’d look over at him: okay, the Orlando scarf got pulled, so I’m not going to Orlando. Likewise, I knew that if he picked one up and held it, I knew I’d be going there.
“But then all of sudden, he’s moving all the scarves around, a trade has just happened, and I’m like: this is insane.
“North America is so big, meaning one pick might see you sent to Vancouver, where I was born, away on the west coast. But if they don’t pick you, then the next pick is Miami and you’re away down south-east with a completely different lifestyle.”
Ultimately, Johnston landed in Nashville, and he credits the Tennessee outfit for helping to sculpt him into the player, and person, he is today.
Three or so years after that night of draft uncertainty, Johnston made his Celtic debut – a thrilling 2-2 draw against Rangers at Ibrox, on an afternoon when Daizen Maeda opened the scoring on five minutes, and Kyogo Furuhashi rounded it off on 88. Less than two years after that again, and Johnston’s five-year plan belongs to Celtic.
He added: “With the draft, you’re constantly thinking: What would my life be like there, or there, or there? Everything being so out of control is really odd. I was lucky enough to be selected by Nashville in the end.
“That was great for myself and my family on a personal level which helped me get here. I look back on it and, again, maybe if a different team had picked me, you know what?
“Maybe I wouldn’t have had the chance to break through and before you know it, I’m bouncing around the MLS without ever finding a home.
“You then don’t get to a place like Celtic, so I got lucky in a way. You want to be part of something that feels important and that’s what Celtic gives you.
“I have been lucky enough to be part of many in the last two years, and hopefully there are more to come in the next five years.”
