Celtic Signs Young Americans Gutman, Perez, Loans Them to USL Clubs

American defenders Andrew Gutman and Manny Perez have signed 3 1/2-year contracts with Celtic.

American defenders Andrew Gutman and Manny Perez have signed 3 1/2-year contracts with Celtic.

Both were immediately loaned Thursday to second-tier United Soccer League Championship for the 2019 season. Gutman was sent to Nashville and Perez to North Carolina.

Gutman is a 22-year-old who was a senior at Indiana and won the Hermann Trophy as the top men's college soccer player last year. He was a member of the Chicago Fire's youth academy and trained with Rangers, Celtic's Glasgow rival.

[NEWS] NCFC Youth Academy Standout Manny Perez (@mannyP113) Signs with @CelticFC, Returns on Loan to North Carolina FC

Read | https://t.co/Nj752Oq2Iq pic.twitter.com/OzrdZs3oKv

— North Carolina FC 🏆 (@NorthCarolinaFC) January 31, 2019

Perez is a 19-year-old right back who was a sophomore at North Carolina State. He played for the U.S. at last year's Concacaf Under-20 Championship.