James Forrest, born in Prestwick on 7 July 1991 (age 34), has had the kind of Celtic career that is increasingly rare. A Scottish right winger wearing squad number 49, he came through at the club and scored on his first-team debut, which was a tidy enough way to announce himself.
His career has been shaped almost entirely at Celtic. Across 17 seasons he has made 361 league appearances and scored 74 league goals, with his most productive league campaign coming in 2018–2019, when he scored 11 times in 33 appearances. He has never needed much theatre around him; at his best, his value has been in timing, direct running and a habit of contributing in seasons that mattered.
The honours reflect the scale of that service. Forrest has won 12 Premiership titles, six League Cups and six Scottish Cups with Celtic. That is not background decoration – it places him firmly among the major modern figures of the club, even if his style has usually been more understated than loudly celebrated.
He remains part of the current Celtic side in 2025–2026, and not just as a ceremonial survivor. Forrest has made 26 league appearances this season, with one league goal, along with further outings in the League Cup, Scottish Cup, Champions League qualifiers and Europa League. Across all competitions he has made 39 appearances, and his form has been solid and consistent.
His current market value is around £340,000, according to Transfermarkt, though that tells only a small part of the story. Forrest’s career is, in plain terms, a long Celtic career: from academy prospect to debut scorer, from regular winger to serial trophy winner, and still a useful first-team presence deep into his thirties.
📈 Key stats and insights
