Mon 25 Jul, 7:09 PM
Celtic have completed the signing of Shunsuke Nakamura from Reggina.
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The Japan international has signed a three-year deal with the Glasgow giants to become manager Gordon Strachan's seventh signing this summer.
The 27-year-old is expected to be in Glasgow shortly for a medical, which is expected to be a formality along with a successful application for a work permit.
Nakamura has signed the three-year contract ahead of his medical after his agents completed negotiations with Celtic.
The Celtic Park manager is delighted with his latest acquisition.
Strachan said: "Once he's out on the pitch, I'm sure our fans will realise very quickly why we were so keen to secure his signature. He's a very special talent.
"He's a player who can bring an extra dimension to any team, and, having done our homework on him and asked many people about his background and temperament, we are delighted the deal has been done.
"I've no doubt it's going to prove a great bit of business for Celtic, and I'm looking forward to him pulling on the hoops and showing our fans why we have worked so hard to bring him here."
The midfielder is a major star in his homeland but, after three years with Reggina, the Japanese international is relishing the opportunity of lining up in front of the Parkhead supporters.
Nakamura said: "Celtic are obviously an enormous football club with an extremely passionate support.
"This was one of the main reasons I have signed and I can't wait to get started and show the fans what I can do.
"I'm confident of a successful season in Glasgow, both in the league and in Europe and look forward to meeting up with my new team-mates later this week."
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell believes the capture can open the key to Far East treasures for the Glasgow giants.
Lawwell believes the signing of Nakamura in a deal worth around £2.75million will have benefits for the club both on and off the pitch.
Lawwell said: "Nakamura is a player Gordon Strachan was especially keen for us to secure, given his superb pedigree in the game.
"This is a player who has played in Serie A for the past three years, who is a mainstay of the Japanese national side, with over 70 caps, and who is one of the biggest footballing icons in Far East football.
"He's here first and foremost for his footballing pedigree, which is evident from the man-of-the match award he won when playing for Japan against Brazil.
"However, the opportunities he will bring in terms of commercial spin-offs, especially in Japan and the Far East, are of great interest.
"One of the most complicated aspects of the negotiations was the player's image rights, which Celtic have secured.
"This could lead to an increase in merchandising sales in the Far East, as well as a significant boost for our other services and products.
"Shunsuke is, alongside Hidetoshi Nakata, the most famous footballer in Japan and I hope that the fans will feel that their patience has been rewarded when they see Nakamura and the other six new signings making an impact this season."
Lawwell added: "I'd also like to thank the chairman Brian Quinn, Dermot Desmond and the rest of the board for their support in enabling us to spend money on players at a time when very few clubs have been able to pay transfer fees as well as players' salaries."
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