Celtic: At 16, Karamoko Dembele was tipped to ‘revolutionise football’ – so where did it go wrong?

When the clock struck midnight on May 31, the tolling bells marked the end of the line for a Celtic starlet once tipped for the very top.

There was no fanfare or fuss as Karamoko Dembele’s Parkhead contract quietly expired and, over a month later, he has started a new chapter at new club Brest – putting pen to paper on a four-year deal with France’s 11th-best team.

The same could not be said when the teen sensation exploded into the global spotlight six years earlier.

Karamoko Dembele was tipped to ‘revolutionise football’ as he burst onto the scene with Celtic

The 19-year-old has since joined France's 11th-best team Brest on a four-year deal

A once bright future has been replaced by an uncertain one with Brest

Six years on after exploding into the global spotlight, his Celtic deal was allowed to expire and the 19-year-old has since joined France’s 11th-best team Brest on a four-year deal

In October 2016, Dembele made headlines around the world when he made his debut for Celtic’s Under 20s at the tender age of just 13.

Coming on for the last nine minutes of a 3-1 win over Hearts, the diminutive attacker replaced Jack Aitchison, the 16-year-old who had become Celtic’s youngest ever debutant and youngest scorer in a 7-0 home win over Motherwell five months previously.

It seemed big things lay in store for Dembele, who had burst to prominence seven months earlier when he beat stars from Barcelona, Deportivo La Coruna, Lyon and West Brom to be named Player of the Tournament at the prestigious St Kevin’s Boys Academy Cup for the Under 13s in Dublin.

Clips posted online showed the little winger leaving markers, including the likes of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Xavi Simons, for dead as well as a fine eye for goal at the competition run by the boys club that nurtured future Ireland internationals like Liam Brady and Damien Duff.

Before that, Celtic’s U13s had also won the Bassevelde Cup in Belgium, beating a highly-rated Borussia Dortmund side in the final.

Dembele was named Player of the Tournament at the prestigious St Kevin's Boys Academy Cup for the Under 13s in Dublin

Dembele was named Player of the Tournament at the prestigious St Kevin’s Boys Academy Cup for the Under 13s in Dublin

Dembele was again named Player of the Tournament. The last time Celtic won that prestigious trophy, Aiden McGeady lifted the award and went on to play for Celtic, Spartak Moscow, Everton, Sunderland, the Republic of Ireland and now Hibernian.

David Feeney, Dembele’s former coach at Park Villa in Glasgow, certainly believed the pint-sized prodigy had the ability and application to go to the very top.

‘I think he is very similar to Lionel Messi. If he has the right guidance, then the sky is the limit for him,’ Feeney said in 2016.

With reports linking the teenager to Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG, one bookmaker offered odds on Dembele skippering Celtic and becoming their youngest debutant, as well as clinching a move to the Nou Camp by the age of 16.

Amid a backlash, however, Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner Tam Baillie objected to the ‘commodification’ of a schoolboy, and the betting firm apologised.

For Neil Lennon, the spotlight being placed on a 13-year-old boy reminded him of Islam Feruz.

Dembele signed his first full-time professional contract with Celtic back in 2018, aged just 15

Dembele signed his first full-time professional contract with Celtic back in 2018, aged just 15

Celtic legend Tommy Burns had fought to keep Feruz in Scotland as his family sought asylum from war-torn Somalia.

Feruz turned his back on Celtic in 2011 to earn more money at Chelsea, where his career petered out after failed loan spells at OFI Crete, Blackpool, Hibernian, Royal Excel Mouscron and Swindon Town.

‘I am sure there were lessons learned from Islam’s situation,’ said Lennon in 2016 while manager of Hibs.

‘We felt at the time he was making the wrong decision. I don’t think Islam had the right structure in the background on the personal side of things to deal with what was lying ahead.

‘I don’t know Karamoko’s background and his family but he’s a talent and he is good to watch and just needs nurtured and protected.

‘The fact he’s had some exposure in the last few months might make things a little bit different for him.’

Despite the interest in him, Dembele did not follow the Feruz route south to chase fame and fortune.

David Feeney, Dembele's former coach, compared the youngster with PSG star Lionel Messi

David Feeney, Dembele’s former coach, compared the youngster with PSG star Lionel Messi

But he did switch international allegiance to England after representing Scotland at Under 16 and Under 17 level.

Born in London before moving to Glasgow before his first birthday, he was eligible for both nations plus the Ivory Coast, where his parents hail from.

After signing his first professional contract with Celtic on Christmas Eve 2018, he made his senior debut coming off the bench against Hearts six months later on the day Celtic lifted the Premiership trophy.

He was just 16 years and 86 days — 15 days short of Aitchison’s record of 16 years and 71 days — but he shone.

‘It’s great the fans have seen a glimpse of the future,’ purred Celtic boss Lennon, now back for a second spell at Parkhead. Six days later, the teenager was an unused member of the squad but picked up a medal as Celtic beat Hearts 2-1 to win the Scottish Cup.

In October that year, French publication L’Equipe named Dembele alongside Barcelona’s Ansu Fati on a list of ‘outstanding young players set to revolutionise the game’.

L'Equipe named Dembele alongside Barcelona's Ansu Fati (centre right) on a list of 'outstanding young players set to revolutionise the game'

L’Equipe named Dembele alongside Barcelona’s Ansu Fati (centre right) on a list of ‘outstanding young players set to revolutionise the game’

And two months later, he became the youngest footballer to represent a Scottish club in Europe when he faced CFR Cluj in a Europa League dead rubber in Romania at the age of 16 years, nine months and 21 days.

But Dembele only featured again once that season and he managed five appearances the following campaign as Celtic’s dreams of winning 10 titles in a row went up in smoke.

As his Parkhead career fizzled out, one report stated he knocked on Lennon’s door to state his case for more game time but that the Northern Irishman did not take kindly to a 17-year-old telling him how to do his job.

Handed a 12-month contract extension last summer, he disastrously fractured his ankle in pre-season against Bristol City.

Dembele celebrates on the pitch after Celtic win the 2018-19 Premiership at Celtic Park

Dembele celebrates on the pitch after Celtic win the 2018-19 Premiership at Celtic Park

Dembele (right) poses with the Scottish Cup alongside Scott Sinclair (left) in 2019

Dembele (right) poses with the Scottish Cup alongside Scott Sinclair (left) in 2019

He was destined for greatness but injuries and lack of game time saw him released by Celtic

He was destined for greatness but injuries and lack of game time saw him released by Celtic

That meant he was unavailable to new boss Ange Postecoglou for most of the title-reclaiming season, making his only two appearances off the bench in March.

‘He’s one I was looking forward to working with,’ said the Australian boss after Dembele played the final six minutes of a 2-0 win over St Mirren.

‘But he’s still a long way off being able to be a meaningful contributor because he’s missed so much football.

‘We will sit down at the appropriate time with him and map out what’s best for him and we will come to a decision.’

Trailing fellow wide attackers Daizen Maeda, Jota, Liel Abada, James Forrest and Mikey Johnson in the Celtic Park pecking order, Dembele’s deal was not renewed ahead of the new season.

Dembele is pictured training with new side Brest as he begins a new chapter of his career

Dembele is pictured training with new side Brest as he begins a new chapter of his career

A bright future has been replaced by an uncertain one with Brest.

The history of football is littered with the names of the ‘next big thing’ for whom life did not quite work out as planned; from Nii Lamptey to Freddy Adu and Sonny Pike.

But as Karamoko Dembele begins life at his new club to write the next chapter of his career, this one-time boy wonder at least has plenty of time on his side to shape a new narrative.

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