Alistair Johnston, born on 8 October 1998 in Canada, is a robust defender plying his trade for Celtic. Standing at a confident 5ft 10ins (1.8m) tall and tipping the scales at 12st 1lb (77kg), Johnston primarily exhibits his skills as a right back and adds substantial value to the Celtic side sporting the number 2 jersey. His footballing proficiency has propelled him into the international spectrum as well, representing the Canadian national team.
As of the moment, the market holds Johnston's worth close to an estimated £6.75m. This professional estimation of his monetary value in the footballing world has been provided by Transfermarkt.
Johnston’s entry into professional football was drawn up in February 2020 when he was enlisted into the Nashville squad, an MLS team in the USA. His debut season saw him marking his presence firmly in the first team, being chosen for 18 league matches. He only bettered his record the next year, making 26 first team appearances and scoring his maiden goal in league matches during his 2021 tenure with Nashville.
In a surprising turn of events, Johnston's path led him to another MLS team in the USA, CF Montreal, in December 2021, with the transfer fee being a well-guarded secret. The following 2022 season at CF Montreal turned fruitful for him, as he found his way into the first team for 33 league matches and scored four solid goals.
Come January 2023, Johnston found himself in the Scottish Premierships where he transferred to Celtic for a sizeable sum of £3m. The 2022-2023 season saw him fit snugly into the Celtic side, contributing to 14 first team appearances and even scoring a goal in league matches. His fervent displays from the 2023-2024 season onwards, only solidified his place in the team, consistently making over 30 appearances and scoring goals each season. His steadfast dedication carries forward to the ongoing 2025-2026 season where he has already made two first team appearances.
Johnston's prowess extends beyond the standard league matches. In the League Cup 2025-2026, he bolstered Celtic's run by scoring a goal in his lone start. In addition, he showed his worth in the Champions League Qualifiers 2025-2026, with starting once enthusiastically for Celtic. His international duties beckoned during the Gold Cup 2025 where he made two starting appearances and one substitute appearance for Canada. He did not shy away from the pressures of the Europa League 2025-2026 either, where he made another significant start for Celtic.
Having proven his worth time and again, it seems Celtic's shrewd investment in Johnston is surely paying dividends.
