The Scotland defender quit his boyhood heroes in 2019 and is now enjoying a loan stint with Real Sociedad.

He dreamed of playing for Celtic. Since he was a boy. He signed when he was seven. It filled his heart with joy.”

Those are the lyrics that once rung around Parkhead during Kieran Tierney’s days at Celtic. A diehard fan who lived the dream by playing for his boyhood heroes. Four titles, three Trebles, iconic derby wins and memorable Champions League nights. Tierney just about achieved it all at the Hoops before completing a record-breaking £25million move to Arsenal in 2019.

Now on a pay packet that will set him up for life, few can begrudge the Scotland international for taking the next step of his career. Those hurt at the time of his departure have probably learned to forgive. Time is a healer and you wouldn’t be surprised to see the hugely talented defender back in green-and-white sometime down the line.

That day – if it ever comes – is no doubt a long way off and for now, Tierney is loving life in Spain with Real Sociedad, where he is spending the season on loan. Sixth in La Liga and a last 16 Champions League clash with PSG on the horizon, KT is back to his best after a frustrating year on the sidelines under Mikel Arteta. And although injuries have hampered his time at the Gunners, Tierney has no regrets in his career.

The decision to quit his beloved Celtic during a period when the club were going for an iconic ten-in-a-row was an emotional one. It was far from straightforward, as it might have been for other players with no attachment to the Hoops, but after Celts banked a fortune for an academy player, Tierney believes the time was right to move on.

He said: “I signed for Celtic at seven years old. I will always be Celtic. Always, always. When I think about what I did at Celtic, where I joined the first team from the academy and here I see Martín Zubimendi and Jon Pacheco and it was the same with them at Real.

For them, it is their club, their Celtic and everyone loves them. And for me, it was really incredible to make it to the first team because I was seven years old when I joined the club. Here you have 15 players like that. It’s tremendous. I was happy at Celtic and I had already had offers from Arsenal before but I didn’t want to leave.

But when they proposed it to me again it was a lot of money, Celtic also took a significant amount and I gained the ability to play in another league, so everyone won. I was happy at Celtic, not that I wanted to leave, but it was for the best.

“I have been very happy at Real. Even with the injury, I have played 11 or 12 games and I am very happy to have played in the Champions League and to have played against Real Madrid, the Basque derby and against Valencia.

“The fans here are awesome. Sometimes, when I’m on the street, I meet people and they always greet me charmingly and encourage me a lot. Always with a lot of respect, they never overwhelm you.

I will never forget that when I was injured and I was leaving with my head down and very upset, I heard the fans singing Kieran Tierney. This confirmed to me what I already knew, that it is a very special club. The fans are very passionate and very crazy. I love that type of supporter.

“I think I was playing well before the injury, but I had not yet produced my best form. I would like to play better, contribute more assists and even score in a game. I hope to do it. For me, it has been important to come to a different country, learn a new language, meet another coach, play in another league.

“I don’t know what will happen in the next year or two, no one can know, but I’m sure I’ll have a lot of experience. I have played in Scotland, in the Premier League and La Liga. Not many players have had that privilege. So I’m really enjoying it.”

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