Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that new signing Hayato Inamura will not be part of Celtic’s first-team squad immediately, describing the Japanese defender as a long-term investment.
Inamura completed his £250,000 move from Albirex Niigata on Friday and was in the stands to watch the Hoops defeat Queen’s Park 1-0 at the City Stadium. The 23-year-old has signed a four-year deal and will wear the number 25 shirt, previously made iconic by Shunsuke Nakamura.
Despite his age, Inamura is still at an early stage in his professional career. He only made his debut in Japan’s top flight in April 2024 and was playing university football before joining Niigata. His rapid rise has earned him attention, but Rodgers has moved to cool expectations.
“No, he won’t be part of the first team,” Rodgers said to CeltsAreHere after Friday’s pre-season fixture. “He’s, again, a part of the investment of the club, is to bring a player in. We’ll assess and see where he’s at as a young player. Then it’s whether he stays with the squad or whether he has to go out on his own.”
Inamura’s signing is in line with Celtic’s ongoing ways of recruiting emerging talent from the Asian market.
Whether he remains in Glasgow or is sent on loan, the club clearly sees potential in the versatile defender, but he won’t be thrown into the deep end just yet.
Brendan Rodgers has confirmed, though, that Gustaf Lagerbielke and Maik Nawrocki will be leaving Celtic this summer, with the latter heading to Hannover to complete a medical ahead of a loan with a buy option agreed between the two clubs.
