Anthony Ralston
Celtic

Anthony Ralston

Anthony Ralston of Celtic was born on 16 November 1998 (age 27).

Anthony Ralston
Anthony Ralston · Photo: Vagelis Georgariou

Born on 16 November 1998 (age 27), Anthony Ralston is a Scotland right-back whose career has been shaped, almost entirely, at Celtic. He joined from Queen’s Park in January 2016 and has worn squad number 51 while becoming a long-serving first-team presence rather than a passing academy name.

His development included early loan football away from Celtic, but the main story has always pulled back to Glasgow. Across 11 seasons he has made 111 league appearances for Celtic, scoring seven league goals. His most productive league campaign came in 2021–2022, when he scored four times in 28 appearances.

Ralston remains involved in the current side. In 2025–2026 he has made 24 league appearances, alongside two League Cup appearances, two in the Scottish Cup, two in Champions League qualifying and five in the Europa League. Across all competitions for Celtic this season, he has 35 appearances and one goal. He has also played for Scotland in three European World Cup qualifiers.

His market value is around £1.5m, according to Transfermarkt. Ralston’s career is not complicated to place: from Queen’s Park to Celtic, shaped by loans, then settled as a durable Celtic defender still contributing in 2025–2026.

📈 Key stats and insights

Anthony Ralston has made 24 Premiership appearances this season
Anthony Ralston has started 14 league matches and come on as a substitute 10 times
Anthony Ralston has one Scottish Cup goal from two appearances
Anthony Ralston averages a 6.82 rating this season
Anthony Ralston has made five Europa League appearances
Last updated 19 May 2026. Send feedback

Anthony Ralston stats

Check out all of the statistics about Anthony Ralston.

Right Back
Primary Position
Defender
Position
Anthony Ralston
RB
1.82m (5ft 11in)
Height
56
Squad Number
78kg (12st 3lb)
Weight
16 November 1998 (age 27)
Date of Birth
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Country of Birth
Celtic
Team
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
National Team
£1.5m (via Transfermarkt)
Market Value

📊 Season stats

Team
Celtic
Celtic
Premiership 2025 - 2026
Games
24
Starting
14
Substitute
10
Unused
14
Utilisation
63%
Goals
-
Yellows
4
Reds
-
Team
Celtic
Celtic
League Cup 2025 - 2026
Games
2
Starting
2
Substitute
-
Unused
2
Utilisation
50%
Goals
-
Yellows
1
Reds
-
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Scottish Cup 2025 - 2026
Games
2
Starting
2
Substitute
-
Unused
2
Utilisation
50%
Goals
1
Yellows
-
Reds
-
Team
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
World Cup Qualifiers Europe 2024 - 2026
Games
3
Starting
1
Substitute
2
Unused
3
Utilisation
50%
Goals
-
Yellows
-
Reds
-
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Champions League Qualifiers 2025 - 2026
Games
2
Starting
1
Substitute
1
Unused
-
Utilisation
100%
Goals
-
Yellows
-
Reds
-
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Europa League 2025 - 2026
Games
5
Starting
1
Substitute
4
Unused
5
Utilisation
50%
Goals
-
Yellows
-
Reds
-

Anthony Ralston has been used regularly rather than automatically in the Premiership, with 24 appearances split between 14 starts and 10 substitute outings. With no league goals and four yellow cards, the profile is one of a squad right-back trusted for minutes across the season, but not a primary attacking outlet. His additional cup workload – including five Europa League appearances and a Scottish Cup goal – points to a role that stretches beyond pure domestic cover.

🔥 Recent form

Last 8 appearances for Anthony Ralston.

Season average rating: 6.82

Match
Hearts
Celtic 3-1 Hearts
16 May 2026 (H)
Mins
-
Goals
-
Rating
-
Match
Motherwell
Motherwell 2-3 Celtic
13 May 2026 (A)
Mins
20
Goals
-
Rating
6.3
Match
Rangers
Celtic 3-1 Rangers
10 May 2026 (H)
Mins
9
Goals
-
Rating
6.5
Match
Hibernian
Hibernian 1-2 Celtic
3 May 2026 (A)
Mins
13
Goals
-
Rating
6.5
Match
Falkirk
Celtic 3-1 Falkirk
25 Apr 2026 (H)
Mins
72
Goals
-
Rating
6.6
Match
St. Mirren
Celtic 6-2 St. Mirren
19 Apr 2026 (H)
Mins
120
Goals
1
Rating
-
Match
St. Mirren
Celtic 1-0 St. Mirren
11 Apr 2026 (H)
Mins
90
Goals
-
Rating
7.3
Match
Dundee
Dundee 1-2 Celtic
5 Apr 2026 (A)
Mins
23
Goals
-
Rating
6.5

Ralston's average rating of 6.82 indicates steady, functional form rather than standout output. The spread from a low of 6.27 to a high of 7.97 suggests he has produced the odd strong performance, but the overall level sits in the reliable rotation bracket. For a player with 14 league starts and 10 substitute appearances, that consistency is broadly in line with his role.

📋 Career stats

Team
Celtic
Celtic
Season 2025 - 2026
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
24
Goals
-
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Season 2024 - 2025
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
16
Goals
2
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Season 2023 - 2024
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
15
Goals
-
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Season 2022 - 2023
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
16
Goals
-
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Season 2021 - 2022
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
28
Goals
4
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Season 2020 - 2021
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
1
Goals
-
Team
St Johnstone
St Johnstone
Season 2019 - 2020
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
22
Goals
-
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Season 2019 - 2020
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
2
Goals
-
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Season 2018 - 2019
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
4
Goals
1
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Season 2017 - 2018
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
3
Goals
-
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Season 2016 - 2017
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
1
Goals
-
Team
Celtic
Celtic
Season 2015 - 2016
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
1
Goals
-
Team
Queen's Park
Queen's Park
Season 2015 - 2016
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
10
Goals
1

Ralston's career path is closely tied to Celtic, with loan spells at Queen's Park, Dundee United and St Johnstone forming the main deviations from the first-team picture. The trajectory suggests a player developed within the club structure, tested at lower or comparable Scottish levels, and retained as a dependable squad option. His better scoring returns, such as four goals in 2021-2022 and two in 2024-2025, look more like periodic contributions than a sustained attacking trend.

💰 Transfers

Team
Celtic
Celtic
1 June 2020
From
St Johnstone
St Johnstone
Type
Returned from loan
Team
St Johnstone
St Johnstone
2 September 2019
From
Celtic
Celtic
Type
Loan
Team
Celtic
Celtic
1 June 2018
From
Dundee United
Dundee United
Type
Returned from loan
Team
Dundee United
Dundee United
15 March 2018
From
Celtic
Celtic
Type
Loan
Team
Celtic
Celtic
4 January 2016
From
Queen's Park
Queen's Park
Type
Returned from loan
Team
Queen's Park
Queen's Park
1 July 2015
From
Celtic
Celtic
Type
Loan

The transfer record is dominated by loans and returns, with no fees listed. Celtic sent Ralston to Queen's Park, Dundee United and St Johnstone, and each move ended with a return to the parent club. That pattern points less to a player moving up or down the market and more to a development route followed by long-term retention as a home-grown squad member.

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