Celtic confirmed the triple signing of Kawasaki Frontale midfielder Reo Hatate, Yokohama F. Marinos striker Daizen Maeda and Gamba Osaka’s Yosuke Ideguchi earlier today.
The three Japanese players had been heavily linked with the Scottish club over the past few weeks and they have now made their move official on the eve of the transfer window opening.
Supporters on Twitter are unsurprisingly very happy that the Hoops managed to get the deals over the line so quickly ahead of January:
Great bit of bizz must say 🇮🇪
— Daimzer67 (@daimzer67) December 31, 2021
Brilliant news🍀🇯🇵
— DubaiBhoy1888 (@dubai_bhoy1888) December 31, 2021
In Ange we trust ✊🍀
— Nikki G🍀 (@nikkigallagher_) December 31, 2021
WWWWWW
— James / Atara (@AtaraFTN) December 31, 2021
pic.twitter.com/91GkpxR6NP
— Daniel (@DanielPark1967) December 31, 2021
New era 🥰
— Alex (@alexshunde) December 31, 2021
Well done Celtic 👍👍
— Mark (@Mark52318596) December 31, 2021
Well done Celtic for getting work done early 👏
— Rab Furuhashi 🇯🇵🏴🇮🇪 (@bigrab1967) December 31, 2021
Tremendous ☘️
— JG ☘️☘️ (@Helpmaboab1971) December 31, 2021
Clearly, the trio were snapped up at the behest of Ange Postecoglou who knows the J-League very well after having managed there.
Whether the likes of Hatate, Maeda and Ideguchi will all have the same impact as Kyogo Furuhashi, though, it remains to be seen. The first team squad needed a lot more depth and their arrival has undoubtedly strengthened Postecoglou’s options going into the second half of the season.
