Yuk Kobayashi has reacted to completing a move to Celtic on a five-year-deal [Celtic FC].
The highly rated centre back is excited to get started at his new club and will be able to join up with his new Hoops teammates on December 1st.
This will mean that Kobayashi will have time to integrate into the Hoops squad and will join up with Ange Postecoglou in Portugal at Celtic’s winter training camp.
A move for the 22-year-old was rumoured a few weeks ago but it is positive that Celtic have acted so swiftly in the market and many will hope that he is the first of many additions during this window.
A pathway has been created for players in the J-league to head to Celtic and compete at the top level in the Champions League which is an ambition every player wants to do with Postecoglou being a familiar figure to many after his time managing Yokohama F. Marinos where he won the league title.
Kobayashi has reflected on making the switch and cannot wait to get started and join up with his new Celtic teammates.
“I am so excited to be joining Celtic and I am really looking forward to this wonderful opportunity,” said Yuki Kobayashi speaking exclusively to the official Celtic website.
“I will be giving everything to try and be successful with the Club.
“Right across the world, everyone knows what a special club Celtic is and it will be a real honour to wear this fantastic jersey.
“The work of Ange Postecoglou is also really well-known in Japan after he had such a great time in the J League, and as well as being part of Celtic I can’t wait to work with him as a coach and the great team of players he has already developed.
“I know that Celtic over so many years has such a brilliant track record of success and I now want to play my part in bringing more great moments to the Club and our fans.
“I would like to thank Vissel Kobe sincerely for all the support that has been given to me in the early part of my career and now I look forward to embracing this exciting new challenge with Celtic, one of the world’s great football clubs.”
Many thought that the Hoops business may have been finished in Japan but Postecoglou once again appeared to have unearthed a top talent.