Alistair Johnston, born in Vancouver on 8 October 1998 (age 28), is a Canadian right-back and part of the current Celtic squad, wearing number 2. He arrived in January 2023 from CF Montreal for around £3m, a fairly direct piece of business for a player who looked ready-made for the demands of the position.
His best league return before Celtic came at CF Montreal in 2022, when he scored four goals in 33 appearances. He was not signed as a headline act, but he quickly settled into a role that asks for durability, concentration and a bit of judgement about when to go forward. Celtic have had flashier full-backs. Johnston’s usefulness has usually been plainer than that.
His time at Celtic has already brought four Premiership titles, two League Cups and two Scottish Cups. That is a substantial haul for a player still in the middle of his Parkhead spell, and he has generally fitted the side without needing the game to be built around him.
In 2026-27, Johnston has made three league appearances and one Scottish Cup appearance for Celtic. He has also remained involved with Canada, making five World Cup appearances and three Gold Cup appearances this season. His current market value is around £7m, according to Transfermarkt.
Johnston’s career has moved from CF Montreal to a regular place in Celtic’s modern domestic success, while maintaining his standing with Canada. It is a solid, well-shaped career so far, and at Celtic he remains a dependable part of the squad rather than a passing extra.
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