Celtic: Callum McGregor signs new five-year deal

Callum McGregor is "desperate to be a part of" further success at Celtic after signing a new five-year contract.

The 26-year-old youth academy graduate has won five league titles, three Scottish Cups and three League Cups in 248 first-team games, scoring 55 goals.

Celtic received "an approach" this summer for Scotland midfielder McGregor, who was linked with former boss Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City.

"It's been a tremendous four or five years for the club and me," he said.

"We've been winning pretty much everything on the pitch, the club's growing all the time.

"I feel as if I'm the best I've ever been in terms of performance, living on and off the pitch, I feel in a really good place and I'm delighted the club have rewarded that."

McGregor, who signed a two-year contract extension last December until 2023, is now committed to the Scottish champions until 2024 having joined the youth academy 18 years ago.

The 17-cap midfielder, Celtic's player of the year last season, is the third Parkhead player in the past week to commit to a new long-term contract, after winger James Forrest and goalkeeper Scott Bain.

McGregor had a season on loan in England's third tier with Notts County before scoring the winner on his Celtic debut at age 21 in a 2014 Champions League qualifier at KR Reykjavík.

He has been an integral part of the Scottish champions' treble treble success and his 69 appearances for club and country last season saw him play more minutes - 5,894 - than any other professional player in world football.external-link

McGregor hailed the influence of midfield mentor Scott Brown for helping him develop into a first-team mainstay, and believes manager Neil Lennon is making the team "even better" after Rodgers' trophy-laden tenure.

"The gaffer's been amazing since he's come in," he added. "He's taken the club on from where Brendan left it and we're going from strength to strength.

"I also don't think I can learn from anyone better than Scott Brown. To be the understudy to him is incredible and I'm trying to learn all the time."

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