Liam Scales (age 27), born on 8 August 1998, is a Republic of Ireland central defender who joined Celtic from Shamrock Rovers in August 2021. His best league return came that year in Ireland, with two goals in 23 appearances, before Celtic brought him to Glasgow as a defender with senior football behind him rather than a project plucked from nowhere.
His early Celtic years were not a simple rise into the side. A loan spell at Aberdeen gave him regular football and hardened him up for the less forgiving parts of the job. When his chance at Celtic came again, he looked more like a player who understood the demands of the position, not just one trying to survive them.
Scales remains part of the current Celtic side and wears the No. 5 shirt. In 2025-26 he has been a regular first-team presence, making 34 league appearances, along with four League Cup appearances, three in the Scottish Cup, two in Champions League qualifying and nine in the Europa League. He has scored twice across those cup and European matches, and his form has been solid and consistent.
He has also stayed in the Republic of Ireland picture, making three European World Cup qualifying appearances this season. His market value is around £4.5m, according to Transfermarkt.
At Celtic, Scales has been part of squads that have won two Premiership titles, two League Cups and a Scottish Cup. His career has taken him from Shamrock Rovers to Celtic, with an important spell away in between, and he remains a useful, trusted defender in the current group.
