Celtic complete the loan signing of Tomoki Iwata from Yokohama F Marinos – as Ange Postecoglou boosts his squad by adding a sixth Japanese player ahead of Premiership title push
- Celtic have confirmed the signing of 25-year-old Japan midfielder Tomoki Iwata
- Hoops’ boss Ange Postecoglou has brought him from his former club in Japan
- Iwata signs on an initial loan with a compulsory option to make deal permanent
- It comes after the midfielder was voted Japanese Player of the Year in November
Celtic have completed the signing of Tomoki Iwata from Ange Postecoglou’s former club Yokohama F Marinos.
Iwata joins the Hoops on an initial loan deal but with an obligation to make the move permanent in the summer.
It comes after the 25-year-old midfielder was crowned Japanese Player of the Year in November after helping his side lift the league title.
Celtic have completed the signing of Tomoki Iwata from Ange Postecoglou’s former club Yokohama F Marinos
Celtic boss Postecoglou thinks that the Japanese Player of the Year ‘will be a player that our supporters will like’
Celtic boss Postecoglou said: ‘We really are delighted to be bringing Tomoki to Celtic and I am sure he will be a player that our supporters will like.
‘He is a versatile player who can operate in defence in midfield, a really committed footballer with some great attributes. He is at a great age for us where his career is on the right trajectory, but he already has a good level of experience.
‘He has just had a brilliant season, he is very deserving of the accolade he has recently received as Japan’s Player of the Year and we are sure he can also bring this real high level of quality to our squad.’
Iwata featured in Japan’s wins over Hong Kong and South Korea in the East Asian championship hosted in his home country in July. However, he was not included in Japan’s World Cup squad.
Iwata joins Celtic on an initial loan deal but with an obligation to make the move permanent in the summer
Speaking about the move, Iwata said: ‘I really am delighted to be joining Celtic, such a huge and successful club known across the world. I can’t wait to begin my journey with Celtic.
‘Everything about Celtic excites me – the scale of the club, the supporters, the…