Albirex Niigata have confirmed defender Hayato Inamura has left Japan to begin the process of a transfer move overseas.
The centre-back has been heavily linked with a summer switch to Celtic.
The Herald first revealed Celtic's interest in the player earlier this month and it now appears a move to Parkhead is inching closer with Inamura leaving his club to finalise a transfer.
いなむ、世界へ翔ける✈️#稲村隼翔 選手が海外クラブへの移籍を前提とした手続きと準備のため、6/29をもってチームを離脱しました。 今後について正式に決定となりましたら改めてお知らせします。 いなむの熱いコメントをどうぞご覧ください👇https://t.co/WsD309s37P#albirex… pic.twitter.com/7WmevOccyE
— アルビレックス新潟 (@albirex_pr) June 30, 2025
Albirez Niigata did not name the club working to seal a transfer for Inamura but reports in recent days have suggested Celtic have an agreement with the J-League side.
A statement from the Japanese club confirmed: "We would like to inform you that Hayato Inamura (23), a member of our club, left the team on June 29th in order to complete the necessary procedures and preparations for a transfer to an overseas club.
"We will notify you of Inamura's future once an official decision has been made."
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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.
