Celtic Invincible winner in shock transfer after window closes as Parkhead heroics take centre stage

Former Celtic star Stuart Armstrong has completed a shock post-summer window move to Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps - with the midfielder penning a two-year deal.

The MLS club teased the signing of the Hoops Invincible winner on social media on Tuesday evening and the Scotland international will join up with former Dundee United team-mate Ryan Gauld in Canada, with Vancouver currently sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference.

The 32-year-old was a free agent having ended his six-year spell with Southampton in the summer, five of which were spent in the English Premier League. Capped 51 times for Scotland, the last of which came at Euro 2024, Armstrong was left out of Steve Clarke’s squad for the upcoming Nations League double-header with Poland and Portugal amid his ongoing search to find a new club.

Vancouver’s signing announcement weighed heavily on Armstrong’s achievements at Parkhead. A club statement read: “Before moving to England, Armstrong played his entire career in his native Scotland. The midfielder spent three and a half seasons with Celtic FC, totaling 28 goals and 25 assists in 107 starts and 144 appearances across all competitions. Armstrong was a member of Celtic’s treble-winning sides in 2016/17 and 2017/18, as the Bhoys won the Scottish Premiership, the Scottish FA Challenge Cup and the Scottish League Cup in back-to-back seasons. Additionally, Armstrong won the Premiership with Celtic during the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons. The midfielder was also involved in their UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League competitions.” Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster commented: “We are very excited to welcome Stuart and his family to Vancouver. He is a player who has excelled for many years at the highest levels in the United Kingdom, as well as internationally with Scotland. He brings experience, tactical awareness, positional flexibility, and a very high work rate. In addition, his passing range and elite chance creation from the midfield position will add another dimension to our team’s overall attack.”

Inverness-born Armstrong came through Dundee United’s youth academy along with a number of Scotland stars past and present including Gauld, Gary Mackay-Steven and Craig Conway. He has been named in three PFA Scotland Team of the Year’s and received the Scottish Football Writers Association ‘Young Player of the Year’ award for his performances during the 2012/13 season at Tannadice. Following his release from St Mary’s, Armstrong spent time on trial at Premier League side Brentford in July but wasn’t offered a deal. Discussing the player earlier this summer, head coach Thomas Frank stated: “Great experience, great player, great career and there is more in him there is no doubt about that. He has been training with us and a bit of helping each other. Him, to get him to a good level, and for us, we have another good player in and that is the plan so far.”