Tomoki Iwata completes Celtic transfer as Japan star becomes Ange Postecoglou’s THIRD January signing
CELTIC have completed the signing of Japan international Tomoki Iwata.
The 25-year old becomes Ange Postecoglou's THIRD signing of the transfer window before it officially even opens.
The Hoops have announced Iwata's arrival on an initial loan deal from Yokohama F. Marinos, with a compulsory purchase clause inserted into the deal.
It means that his time in Glasgow will be made permanent in the summer.
That fee is understood to be around £1million.
The deal is similar to the one that brought Daizen Maeda to Celtic a year ago.
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Iwata becomes the Hoops' third January signing after the captures of Yuki Kobayashi and Alistair Johnston.
He also becomes the sixth Japanese player in Postecoglou's squad, with Kyogo, Maeda, Kobayashi, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi already in the building.
Iwata arrives on the back of a stellar season in his home country.
Capable of playing in midfield and in defence, Iwata was named the J-League's Player of the Year last season as his side won the title.
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After the signing was announced, Iwata told the Celtic website:
“I really am delighted to be joining Celtic, such a huge and successful club known across the world. I can’t wait to begin my journey with Celtic.
''Everything about Celtic excites me - the scale of the club, the supporters, the atmosphere, the style of football which the club is famous for and of course working with the manager and players.
“I am really looking forward to getting started, to meet my new team-mates and begin working on bringing our fans more and more success.”
Boss Postecoglou was thrilled with his latest signing, a player he previously coached at Yokohama.
He reckons Iwata will be a huge hit with the Hoops fans.
The boss said: “We really are delighted to be bringing Tomoki to Celtic and I am sure he will be a player that our supporters will like.
“He is a versatile player who can operate in defence in midfield, a really committed footballer with some great attributes. He is at a great age for us where his career is on the right trajectory, but he already has a good level of experience.
“He has just had a brilliant season, he is very deserving of the accolade he has recently received as Japan’s Player of the Year and we are sure he can also bring this real high level of quality to our squad.”
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