U.S. defender Trusty joins Celtic in $7.8M deal

United States international defender Auston Trusty has joined reigning Scottish champions Celtic on a five-year deal, the club announced on Friday, with the deal reportedly worth $7.8 million.

Trusty, 26, joins from Championship side Sheffield United, where he was in his second season at the club following a $6.4m transfer from Arsenal just over a year ago.

Trusty made 34 appearances for Sheffield United last season during a campaign in which the Blades were relegated from the Premier League. In moving to Celtic, Trusty will join up with fellow U.S. international Cameron Carter-Vickers.

“We are so pleased to sign Auston and he is a really welcome addition to our squad,” Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said. “He is a quick, strong, athletic defender with great ability and good experience and a player who has done really well to make his way to the USA national squad.

“We are really looking forward to working with Auston. I know he is really excited to be joining Celtic and looking forward to facing the challenges ahead and playing his part as we strive to bring our fans success once again.”

Trusty began his professional career with the Philadelphia Union in 2016. He played two years with the team’s reserve side, Bethlehem Steel, before making his first team debut on March 3, 2018. After spending two seasons with the Union, Trusty moved to the Colorado Rapids, who after spending a further two seasons in MLS was transferred to Arsenal in January of 2022.

The center back never made a first team appearance for Arsenal, returning to Colorado for a loan stint before embarking on another loan at Birmingham City.

At international level, Trusty has represented the U.S. at multiple age groups, playing in both the U17 and U20 World Cups during 2015. At senior level he has made two appearances, most recently in June 2023 in the CONCACAF Nations League final victory over Canada.