Anthony Ralston, born on 16 November 1998 in Scotland, is a robust defender who primarily plays as a right back for Celtic Football Club. Standing 1.82m (5ft 11in) tall and tipping the scales at 78kg (12st 3lb), he's known for his resilience on the pitch. He proudly wears the number 56 jersey for the Hoops and has recently been recognised at national level by representing Scotland.
As per Transfermarkt, his current market value is around £1.5m; a price that speaks to his growing profile within the game. He has approximately 2 years and 2 months left on his current contract with Celtic, which is scheduled to expire on 31 May 2027.
In July 2015, Ralston was loaned out from Celtic to Queen's Park, suggesting the aspiration for him to gain broader experience within the Scottish Championship. During his stint at Queen's Park, he made a promising debut season (2015-16), marking ten first team appearances and scoring one goal in league matches.
Returning to Celtic in January 2016 upon completion of his loan, Ralston began a steady ascent within the ranks over subsequent seasons. His progress, taking place largely under the diligent management of Brendan Rodgers, showed an increasing presence in first team appearances. From making just a single appearance in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, he started to make a greater impact on the pitch in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, with three and four appearances respectively. The 2018-19 season also marked Ralston's first goal for Celtic in league matches.
Additional loan spells followed, which sent him briefly to Dundee United and St Johnstone in 2018 and 2019 respectively. At St Johnstone, Ralston saw a significant uptick in playtime, making 22 first team appearances in league matches during the 2019-20 season, displaying his growing competence as a defender.
After these valuable experiences, further cementing his reputation as a reliable player, Ralston returned to Celtic. Over the subsequent seasons, Anthony Ralston has made more frequent appearances and started to find the back of the net at Celtic, particularly in the 2021-2022 season where he made 28 appearances and scored four goals. This upwards trajectory has continued, with regular first team appearances in every season up to the current 2024-25 season, where he has already made 13 appearances and scored two goals.
Ralston's talent has also been recognised at international level, having represented Scotland in the Euro 2024 where he made three starts. This footballer's journey is a testament to the success of Celtic's youth nurturing system, and a clear depiction of sustained progress within his career.
