Wolverhampton Wanderers have moved Sam Johnstone out of the door on a season-long loan, with the 33-year-old joining Scottish champions Celtic for the 2025-26 campaign. The deal resolves an obvious problem at Molineux: a senior goalkeeper who had not played since an FA Cup defeat to Liverpool in early March needed regular football, and Wolves needed to trim their squad as they begin life in the Championship.

A keeper who ran out of game time

Johnstone made 17 appearances for Wolves last season but lost his starting place in December. Relegated alongside his club, he arrived in the summer facing the reality of a second-tier season in which his prospects of first-team minutes were uncertain. Celtic, searching for cover after Kasper Schmeichel retired in February with a shoulder injury, offered the platform the former England international was looking for.

"I'm buzzing to be here and I'm excited to get going," Johnstone told Celtic's club media. "I didn't need convincing by anyone, but Joe Hart rang me the other day just to reiterate what a place this is, what a great group of lads and how the fans are unbelievable."

Johnstone, who began his career at Manchester United and has had spells at Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, earned the last of his four England caps in 2023. At Celtic he will compete with Finnish international Viljami Sinisalo for the starting berth.

What it means for Wolves in the Championship

For Wolves, the loan carries real squad-management logic. Running a Championship budget means keeping wages productive; a high-earner sitting idle every Saturday is precisely the kind of drag that Championship clubs cannot sustain over a 46-game season. Moving Johnstone on frees a shirt, clears some wage burden and removes a dressing-room complication that might otherwise have simmered through autumn.

The club will now need to decide whether their existing goalkeeping options are sufficient or whether a replacement comes in before the window closes. Wolves have the depth of a recently relegated squad, so cover may already be in place, but the situation is worth watching as deadline day approaches.

Celtic's perspective adds context for Wolves fans

From a Wolves supporter's point of view, the Celtic angle is largely incidental. What matters is that a player who stopped contributing last December has found a route to game time, that the club are actively managing their squad for the division they now occupy, and that the transfer moves at pace as the new season approaches.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill described Johnstone as "a quality keeper with excellent experience at the highest level," a nod to a career that, while it stalled at Wolves towards the end of last term, has genuine pedigree. Whether or not Johnstone flourishes in Glasgow, the deal allows Wolves to face the Championship with a leaner, more purposeful group.

The loan runs for the full season, meaning Wolves will not see Johnstone again until the summer of 2026 at the earliest. By then, they hope to be back in discussions about a very different division entirely.

Frequently asked

Why did Wolves loan out Sam Johnstone?
Johnstone had not played since March after losing his starting place in December. With Wolves now in the Championship, moving him on loan to Celtic allows the club to clear a squad place and ensure the goalkeeper gets regular first-team football.
How long is Sam Johnstone's loan at Celtic?
Johnstone has joined Celtic on a season-long loan, meaning he will be at the Scottish club for the full 2025-26 campaign before returning to Wolves.
Who will be Wolves' goalkeeper in the Championship?
With Johnstone loaned out, Wolves will need to rely on their remaining goalkeeping options. The club may still move in the transfer market before the window closes to ensure adequate cover for the Championship season.