Former Celtic defender signs for new club in seventh tier of English football pyramid

There are just a few days remaining in the summer transfer window with clubs having till Friday to finalise any business and get their squads in place for the first half of the 2024/25 campaign.

Celtic have already brought in goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo as well as securing former loanees Adam Idah and Paulo Bernardo on permanent deals. However, Brendan Rodgers is likely to have a busy few days and will hopefully be given some of the £25 million from Matt O’Riley’s Brighton move to spend.

Meanwhile, across the border, a former Celtic defender has signed for a club in Northern Premier League which operates as the seventh tier of England’s football pyramid. Efe Ambrose, a popular figure at Celtic Park between 2012 and 2017 when he made over 100 appearances and lifted all domestic trophies including four League titles, has joined Cumbrian outfit Workington FC.

The 51-times capped Nigerian international was previously with Bury FC who are the phoenix club of Bury AFC and play in the North West Counties League. Workington become the ninth club of Ambrose’s career since leaving Celtic.

After an initial loan from Celtic to Hibs he signed permanently for the Easter Road club in 2017 after helping them win the Scottish Championship and gain promotion back to the Premiership. After two more seasons in Edinburgh he went on to represent Livingston, St Johnstone, Dunfermline Athletic, Queen of the South and Greenock Morton.

Although he hasn’t been capped for Nigeria since his spell in Leith the now 35-year old did earn an impressive 51 senior caps for his national team during his career. He was an Africa Cup on Nations winner in 2013 and has been awarded with the Order of Nigeria for his services to the sport in his native country.