Hayato Inamura has confirmed his departure from Albirex Niigata amid strong expectations that he will become Celtic’s fifth summer signing.
Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, Benji Nygren and Callum Osmand have all signed for the club so far this summer.
The 23-year-old centre-back played his final match for the J-League side on Sunday in a 4-0 defeat to Machida Zelvia and is now set to arrive in the UK this week to complete a medical and finalise the paperwork on his move to Glasgow.
Although the Japanese club stopped short of naming his destination, Celtic have been closely linked with the defender throughout June, and all signs point towards him joining Brendan Rodgers’ squad ahead of the upcoming season.
Inamura released an emotional statement through Albirex Niigata, thanking supporters for their support and explaining his reasons for seeking a new challenge abroad.
“To all those who love Albirex Niigata I have decided to transfer overseas. As a result, I will be leaving the team.
“First of all, I am sorry to have made this decision when the team is in a difficult situation.
“And I would like to thank all the supporters for the love they have shown me for about two years, including the special designated period when I was confirmed to join Albirex Niigata .
“When I heard my chant at the opening game of this season, I felt a great sense of responsibility and awareness.
“I want to make this team win, and I want to make all the supporters smile every week. This feeling was my driving force.
“LA FAMILIA is a word that supporters cherish, and I also love this word.
“As this word shows, I think the atmosphere of a big family rooted in Niigata is Albirex Niigata’s greatest strength.
“That’s why I wanted to convey my passion for soccer and my feelings for the team more on the pitch at this warm club.
“However, when I worked backwards from my goal, I came to the conclusion that now is the best time to challenge myself overseas.
“I know that not everyone will be happy to see me off, but I will fight with all my might so that one day everyone will think that this decision was the right one and feel proud.
“Finally, I was able to grow in Niigata thanks to the support of everyone involved with Albirex Niigata and everyone who supports our daily activities.
“It is thanks to you all that I was able to build the foundation as a professional soccer player.
“Thank you very much. I will take all the experiences I gained in Niigata to heart and head to a new challenge.
“I will do my best to make everyone proud of the time they spent with me. It was a short time of about two years, but thank you very much!”
Celtic are expected to complete Inamura’s signing later this week, adding further depth to a defence that has already seen significant summer movement.
More will follow, you’d hope. The assumption is that Inamura is coming in to provide cover at centre-half, or push for a starting role. It still leaves the left-back position vulnerable, with Kieran Tierney the only senior player for the position, currently.
