Nat Phillips speaks out after completing loan move from Liverpool to Celtic

Liverpool defender Nat Philips will spend the first half of the season on loan at Scottish Premiership champions Celtic

Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips has agreed a loan move to Celtic for the first half of the season.

The 26-year-old defender will spend the rest of the year at the Scottish Premiership champions to help alleviate an injury crisis for Brendan Rodgers' side.

Phillips, who still has two years remaining on his contract, didn't feature for Liverpool during pre-season and hasn't played for Jurgen Klopp's side since January. He has made only eight Reds appearances since May 2021.

Speaking to Celtic TV, Phillips said: “I’m really excited. When I heard about the interest it was one that got me excited. There were a few other options that didn’t quite make me feel the same as this one did, so I was really keen to get it over the line and I’m delighted to be here now.

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"It’s such a huge club, the club’s aspirations, the level it competes at, the fact that they’re in the Champions League this year and the mentality of the club – they want to be winners in everything they do.”

Rodgers said: "It’s been well-documented that it’s an area of the team we needed to look at in the short-term due to a number of injuries we have experienced, and so we’re pleased that Nat will provide that defensive support in the squad.

"Nat arrives with the experience of having played for another huge club in Liverpool and those experiences will serve him well here at Celtic."

Phillips is the latest Liverpool centre-back to go out on loan, with Rhys Williams already in Scotland with Aberdeen and Billy Koumetio this week agreeing a temporary move to French Ligue 2 side USL Dunkerque.