Celtic confirm contract extension as Martin O'Neill explains why deal is 'worth its weight in gold'

Forrest has racked up 564 appearances for Celtic – including 36 this season – scoring 110 goals and contributing 112 assists since making his first-team debut on May 1, 2010, when he netted in a 4-0 win over Motherwell. He is the most decorated Celtic player of all time with 26 trophies to his name – 13 league titles, seven Scottish Cups and six League Cups.

And the winger, who turns 35 in July, showed he can still be influential with a game-changing performance off the bench in Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final victory over St Mirren.

Forrest replaced Sebastian Tounekti in the 61st minute at Hampden and was handed the captain's armband after Callum McGregor was withdrawn shortly afterwards. St Mirren fought back from two goals down but Forrest turned the tie Celtic's way in extra time with a signature run down the right wing and a pinpoint cross for Kelechi Iheanacho to head in, making it 3-2.

He was also involved in the fourth goal scored by Luke McCowan just two minutes later, which effectively ended the contest. Forrest revealed afterwards that he had been in talks with the club over extending his stay for another year. He is now "absolutely delighted" to have signed on the dotted line.

"I’ve been here my full career and I’ve loved every minute of it," Forrest said. "We’ve been so successful in my time here and I’m delighted to have signed another year, and I’ll just give my best to the club for however long I’ll be here.

“While I’m still playing I can hopefully keep contributing and helping the team when I can and I’m just going to give it everything until I finish. When I do stop, I will look back on so many great memories, but hopefully I can make a few more before I do finish.”

Forrest has scored in every one of the 17 seasons he has been at Celtic, including this season when he netted a goal in a 3-1 win against Aberdeen just before Christmas.

Manager Martin O’Neill believes the veteran has earned the right to be kept on for another year.

“I really want James to finish his career here at Celtic, and I just didn’t want him to be going elsewhere, and I think he wanted that as well," O'Neill said. “But the major point about taking anyone on is to know whether they’re worth an extra year and James has proved this season that he has been worth that.

“He has changed games and he has done wonderfully well. His contribution in recent weeks when he’s come off the bench has been absolutely terrific, and he has deserved it, and that’s the point. So, take sentimentality right out of it, he’s deserved it.

“He’s been immense for the football club since Neil Lennon brought him in when he was a young kid in the reserves, and he is what I love – I love players who take people on and he can take people on, even to have that little burst of pace at his age is worth its weight in gold.”