Cameron Carter-Vickers had Premier League options but his only interest was Celtic and the Champions League.
The Hoops have made a major statement by turning loans of Jota and the American international into permanent transfers. Wolves, Leicester and former club Bournemouth were linked but Carter-Vickers was adamant his only focus was leaving Tottenham and extending his stay in Glasgow. The 24-year-old is now looking to build on last season’s double and helping Celtic make their mark in the group stage of the Champions League.
Carter-Vickers said: “I was linked with a few Premier League clubs but it was never anything concrete because I was always set from the end of last season that I wanted to sign for Celtic. That’s what I wanted to do. It didn’t happen immediately but it was still done quite quickly and I was delighted. It was important for me to finally get away from Tottenham.
"I think I kind of knew Tottenham’s stance before the end of the season. I didn’t really have to go back in the summer and speak to him. So it was quite simple if the clubs could agree a fee. To get the deal done early in the window was good.”
He is looking to kick on again and knows there is no bigger stage than the Champions League, where Celtic go straight into the group stage. Carter-Vickers added: “We’d a very good season last year, not just me, the team.
“I’ve bonded well with the team and the coaching staff. I enjoy being here. I got on well with the coaches and players and I think I improved as a player as well.
“The Champions League is probably the toughest competition you can play in at club level. To be a part of that and to measure yourself up against the best players in the world will be good.
“We’ll be there to try to win every game. That’s how the manager will set us up, that’s his way of doing things.”
Carter-Vickers came through the ranks at Spurs but spent most of his senior career out on loan. Celtic was his seventh loan spell and he reckons Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou has got the best out of him and helped him find his paradise.
He said: “I sort of enjoyed it. I got used to it, working under different managers and styles. I learned a lot playing in different styles of teams. It will be good for me to settle somewhere and Celtic will be a great place for that.”
Last season was big for Carter-Vickers but he knows the next one could be even bigger with a World Cup on the horizon. The end of the year brings Qatar 2022 – where the USA will take on England, Iran and Wales.
Carter-Vickers said: “100 per cent. Every player wants to be part of a World Cup. That’s got to be my aim, to keep working hard and keep working to be part of the squad.
“Yeah it could be big. With international football I’ve just got to focus on doing well at Celtic and building upon what we did last year. Hopefully the stuff on top will then come.”
If all goes to plan Carter-Vickers could be trying to stop his former Tottenham team-mate Harry Kane when they take on England at the finals on November 25. It is clearly a challenge the no-nonsense defender would relish but he joked it could leave his family divided.
His dad is American while his mum’s side of the family is from England and he was born in Southend. The Celtic star added: “Oh yeah, that will be a good game. I’ve not really had too much banter from my mum’s side of the family about it yet. It would be a chance to play against Harry Kane.”
There’s also a strong Celtic influence within the American locker room with former Hoops loanee Timothy Weah also a regular in coach Gregg Berhalter’s squad.
Carter-Vickers said: “We had a little chat about Celtic. He really enjoyed it up here as well. Now he’s off playing in France, but we spoke a little about it.
“He’s a very good guy, me and him actually get on really well. He’s a funny guy.”
Carter-Vickers was away on international duty preparing to take on Grenada in a CONCACAF Nations League clash when his move was confirmed. The defender was well aware of the impact it had made on the Celtic support – on the other side of the Atlantic.
Carter-Vickers said: “It was a bit difficult to take it all in at the time. I was away with the USA and when it was announced we had a game that night and I was trying to focus on that. I saw bits of the fans’ reaction and it was great to see.”
Not many players turn their back on the Premier League but Carter-Vickers is an exception. He has also made it perfectly clear it’s not about getting back there, his only focus is doing as well as he can for Celtic.
He added: “I never really think that far ahead. For me, it’s just about the next step. And the next step for me is just about trying to improve my football and trying to improve my performances for Celtic.”
The Celtic squad have built into the total football approach that Postecoglou wants and Carter-Vickers knows that won’t change – even when they play in the Champions League.
He said: “I think the Champions League is tough but we’ll try to win every game. That’s how the manager will set us up, that’s the way he does things.”
READ NEXT
