Liam Scales, born on 8 August 1998 (age 27), is a Republic of Ireland central defender and part of the current Celtic first-team squad. He came through in Ireland and built his senior reputation at Shamrock Rovers, where his 2021 league season brought two goals in 23 appearances before Celtic moved for him in August that year.
His early Celtic period was not a straight line into the side. A loan spell away from the club helped harden his game and gave him the regular football he needed, which mattered when he came back into the picture. Scales has never been the most decorative defender, but he has become a dependable one – and there is value in that.
Since joining Celtic, he has won two Premiership titles, two League Cups and one Scottish Cup, as well as finishing runner-up in another Scottish Cup. Those medals came across a spell in which he moved from squad option to a more established presence, wearing number 5 and giving Celtic a left-sided centre-back who can handle the weekly demands of the job.
In 2025-26, Scales has remained a regular first-team figure, making 37 league appearances, four in the Scottish Cup, two in Champions League qualifying and nine in the Europa League, where he has scored once. He has also continued to feature for the Republic of Ireland, with three World Cup qualifying appearances this season.
His current market value is around £4.5m, according to Transfermarkt. From Shamrock Rovers to Celtic, via the development he gained from regular football elsewhere, Scales has shaped a solid career and remains relevant in a side where defensive places are rarely handed out for free.
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