Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho has revealed that he was determined to join Turkish club Bursaspor, instructing his agent to do everything possible to secure the transfer despite receiving a fresh contract offer from Scottish champions Celtic.

The 29-year-old completed a one-year move to Bursaspor earlier this month after Celtic allowed the option to extend his contract to expire, although the Scottish club later attempted to keep him with a new deal.

Iheanacho had joined Celtic last September following his departure from Sevilla after a loan spell at Middlesbrough.

Explaining his decision in his first interview since the transfer, the former Super Eagles forward said Bursaspor’s ambitious long-term project was the key factor behind his move.

“To be fair, Bursaspor is a big club in Turkey and I had heard that they had previously won the Turkish Super Lig,” Iheanacho said.

“When I heard about their project, that they wanted to climb up to the Super Lig and also play in Europe, I said that this is a big project and it’s very good for me to come and be involved and help the team.

“So I asked my agent to make sure he does everything possible to make sure I come to Bursaspor. My target is for us to go to the Super Lig.”

Bursaspor are aiming for consecutive promotions after winning the Turkish TFF Second League title last season and view Iheanacho as a key figure in their bid to return to the country’s top flight.

The Nigerian international also noted the similarities between Bursaspor’s famous green-and-white colours and those of Celtic.

“It’s the same green and white, to be fair. I don’t know if it’s déjà vu, like they say in French,” he joked.

“It’s the same shirt, but Celtic is a bit lighter green, Bursaspor is dark green. It’s a little bit different, but it’s all similar. It’s all good.”

Reports in Turkey had claimed Iheanacho would earn £47,000 per week at Bursaspor, but club president Enes Çelik dismissed the figures, revealing that the striker’s annual salary is £1.2 million—approximately £23,000 per week.

Çelik added that Iheanacho chose the club because of its sporting ambitions rather than more lucrative financial offers elsewhere.

Reacting to the striker’s departure, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill admitted the transfer did not go as the club had anticipated.

“There are two sides to every particular transfer as there is to every story,” O’Neill said.

“I thought we had a deal with him at the time, but seemingly that wasn’t the case and so he’s gone to pastures new.”

Iheanacho now begins a new chapter in Turkey, where he will be expected to spearhead Bursaspor’s push for promotion back to the Turkish Super Lig.