CELTIC HAVE SIGNED ANOTHER PLAYER TODAY from Japan today.
Tomoki Iwata, who can play in a number of roles has signed for the Scottish champions on a season-long loan.
The 25-year-old has 4 caps for Japan, but was left out of the squad for this year's World Cup in Qatar.
He was named Japanese Player of the Year in November.
Celtic have also confirmed that they have a compulsory purchase clause included in the deal which will see him move on to a long-term contract in the summer.
Ange Postecoglou worked with the new Celtic signing, while he was at Japanese club Yokohama F Marinos before moving to Scotland.
The pair won a league title together and will link up once more when the window opens.
Postecoglou told the official Celtic website: "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.
🆕✍️ #WelcomeTomoki
We are delighted to announce the signing of current J-League Player of the Year and Japanese international Tomoki Iwata.
Welcome to #CelticFC, Tomoki! 🍀🇯🇵— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 30, 2022
"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."
Iwata added: "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."
Iwata joins Yuki Kobayashi and Canada right-back Alistair Johnston as one of the new signings at the club. A debut for the trio could happen for the upcoming Glasgow derby against Rangers on 2 January.
He is the sixth player Celtic have signed from the J League. These include Yosuke Ideguchi, Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda
Celtic play Rangers on Monday 2nd Jan.
