James Forrest, born in Prestwick on 7 July 1991 (age 34), has had the sort of Celtic career that is increasingly rare. A Scotland international and primarily a right winger, he announced himself by scoring on his first-team debut and has spent the rest of his senior career building quietly from there.
Celtic is the clear spine of his story. Across 17 seasons he has made 360 league appearances and scored 74 league goals, with his most productive league campaign coming in 2018-19, when he scored 11 times in 33 appearances. He has never been a player who needed much theatre around him; at his best, he gave Celtic width, goals, work, and a degree of reliability that tends to be more appreciated with time.
The medal count is substantial: 12 Premiership titles, six Scottish Cups and six League Cups with Celtic. That is not decoration around the edges of his career. It reflects how long he has mattered in successful Celtic sides, through different teams and different demands.
Forrest remains part of the current squad, wearing number 49, and has still been a regular first-team presence in 2025-26. He has made 25 league appearances with one league goal, along with appearances in the League Cup, Scottish Cup, Champions League qualifying and Europa League. His form this season has been solid and consistent, which is about what Celtic have often come to expect from him. His current market value is around £340,000, according to Transfermarkt.
Forrest’s career is, in plain terms, a Celtic career: long-serving, decorated, and still active. He is not just a link to past success, but a player still being used in the present side, which says enough about his staying power.