Celtic's pursuit of winger Haissem Hassan began in January, manager Martin O’Neill has revealed.
The club had first attempted to secure his services from Real Oviedo in the winter. However, Oviedo were unwilling to part with the 24-year-old at that time.
Hassan officially joined Celtic on Wednesday night, signing an initial four-year contract with a possible extension of another year. O'Neill said: "We’d been tracking him in January time."
"We were hoping that we’d be able to do something. Oviedo, obviously, at the bottom end, bottom rung of the league, were unwilling to let anybody go at that stage, which is totally understandable.
"It wasn’t as if to say he was just like an afterthought for us in the last couple of weeks, far from it. We have been chasing him, a number of players in that sort of position that we feel as if they will add something to us.
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"He very, very much fits the bill. I’m delighted that he’s here and hopefully he’ll do well.”
The Egyptian international, a former Villarreal player, is known for his direct attacking style. He is expected to bring an element of flair to the team with his ball-carrying skills and ability to take on defenders.
O'Neill added: "I think that when he gets to see the surroundings here, I just think he’ll glow. People start to think about the number of things that players can’t do.
"And I think you have to stay more in the positive of what players can do. Going past players now is sort of a dying art, which is really almost unforgivable in football. That’s what fans get excited about.
"Actually, to tell you the truth, so do fellow players.”
