Celtic confirms their first January deal.

Celtic have announced the transfer of Yosuke Ideguchi to Vissel Kobe, the club that provided the Celtics with Kyogo Furuhashi and Yuki Kobayashi.

The midfielder joined Celtic two years ago alongside Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda, but a nasty injury on his debut against Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Cup effectively ended his Celtic career before it even began. Matt O’Riley made his debut away to Hearts.

Ideguchi was billed as a holding midfielder with a previous stint in Europe at Leeds United, but that position barely existed at Celtic, where they have 70% possession in many domestic matches. James McCarthy and Oliver Abildgaard had similar fates.
The midfielder joined Celtic two years ago alongside Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda, but a nasty injury on his debut against Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Cup effectively ended his Celtic career before it even began. Matt O’Riley made his debut away to Hearts.

Ideguchi was billed as a holding midfielder with a previous stint in Europe at Leeds United, but that position barely existed at Celtic, where they have 70% possession in many domestic matches. James McCarthy and Oliver Abildgaard had similar fates.
Celtic appear to have received a 1 million euro fee for the midfielder, which is the same amount they paid Gamba Osaka two years ago. Exchange rate fluctuations may result in a small profit or loss.

Ideguchi made five substitute appearances in his ‘debut’ season and spent the 2023 J-League season on loan at Avispa Fukuoka, where he was nominated for Player of the Year honours.

Celtic are expected to lose more players, but the January transfer window has started slowly, both in and out.

in other news,  Fabrizio Romano releases a Celtic transfer update on highly-rated star Rocco Vata.