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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Josh McCafferty

Celtic 'reach agreement' for J-League defender as announcement timeline revealed

Celtic have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Hayato Inamura from Albirex Niigata. 

The 23-year-old predominantly operates as a central defender for the J-League outfit. 

Inamura has played 16 times for his side this season and scored his maiden goal in senior football last weekend in a 3-2 defeat to Avispa Fukuoka. 

The Herald first revealed Celtic's interest in the player earlier this month, and now, according to Japanese outlet Sponichi, the club have reached an agreement to sign Inamura, who will play his last game for Niigata today, against Machida Zelvia in the J-League. 


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After that, it is said that he will travel to Glasgow to undergo a medical, with an official announcement of his signing expected next week. 

The left-sided defender has just over a year of professional football under his belt. Similarly to Reo Hatate, Inamura came through the university system in Japan before making the jump to the J-League. 

He will be Celtic's first signing from the land of the rising sun since they brought in Yuki Kobayashi and Tomoki Iwata. Neither proved to be a roaring success in Glasgow's east end. 

It remains to be seen how Inamura will fare, with him set to become the Parkhead club's fourth summer arrival, following on from Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan and Benjamin Nygren. 

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