Tomoki Iwata is officially on his way to Scotland after being snapped in the airport departure lounge.
Ange Postecoglou completed a deal for the J-League Player of the Year last week with the midfielder penning an initial loan agreement before a compulsory purchase clause begins in the summer meaning he will be at the champions for the long-term. It was a similar style deal the Hoops struck this time last year for Daizen Maeda.
It's a market that Celtic have been used to signing from in the past 18 months with the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hate and recent recruit Yuki Kobayashi also making the move from Japan. The Premiership leaders host Kilmarnock at Parkhead tomorrow afternoon as they bid to keep their healthy points tally over Rangers at the top intact. It could be an opportunity for Iwata to see the stadium and his new team-mates in action for the first time before the Viaplay Cup semi-final next week against the same opposition.
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Jeb Entertainment - a global sports management & consulting agency based in Tokyo - shared two images of the Celtic man in the airport departure lounge accompanied with the following translated message: "Players off to Scotland. Refreshing the tiredness of the season in my hometown Oita before departure. See you on the way."
Speaking after completing the deal, Postecoglou 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.”
Tomoki 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.”
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