US club Charlotte Independence have agreed terms with Celtic’s January signing Andrew Gutman, he has confirmed.
The left-back, 22, has revealed he has made a loan move to the US second-tier outfit ahead of the start of the new season beginning 15 March.
Gutman will link up with Charlotte, who are managed by former Celtic performance coach Jim McGuinness, after the MLS vetoed his planned move to Nashville last week.
Gutman told The Charlotte Post: “There’s a good connection between Jim the head coach here – he is a former Celtic coach.
“I decided this was the best way to get better and develop more and hopefully get back to Celtic, but at the same time, help Charlotte as much as I can, win as many games and play the best soccer we can.”
McGuinness said of Gutman: “We are delighted to have him here. We think he is going to be a really good fit for our style of play and what we want to do. A very good left foot, a very good left back.”
OPINION
On the face of it, this is a deal that makes sense, even though Gutman only signed a three-and-a-half year contract with Celtic at the end of last month. With Kieran Tierney the undisputed number one left-back at Parkhead, and Emilio Izaguirre making a decent fist of standing in for the injured Scotland international in recent weeks, Celtic are not in dire need of the January signing right now. It is better that he gets regular game time at a club who can make him a central figure. While it is not ideal that the wide man, who can play left midfield as well as left-back, could not get a move to an MLS club ratified, and will instead play in the division below, at least he should have the chance to develop. Gutman spent four seasons with Indiana, where he scored 20 goals and supplied 17 assists from 90 appearances, before joining the Chicago Fire academy programme. He was a man in demand in January, eventually signed for Celtic after undergoing a trial at rivals Rangers.