Hayato Inamura

Rodgers welcomed his fifth signing of the summer on Friday when 23-year-old Japanese defender Hayato Inamura joined on a four-year deal from J-League side Albirex Niigata.

However, the manager explained that his latest recruit will be bedded in gently to life at Celtic.

Asked if he would be ready to go straight into the first team, Rodgers said: “No, he won’t be.

“He’s a part of the investment of the club. We’ll assess and see where he’s at as a young player and then it’s whether he stays with the squad or whether he has to go out on loan.

 

Fingers crossed he’s not *!

 

So sent out on loan then. Good stuff.

 

Ohh the excitement..

 

We are pleased to announce that Hayato Inamura (23) has signed a formal contract for a permanent transfer to Celtic FC (Scotland).

Hayato Inamura
Position:
Defender

Date of birth:
May 6, 2002 (23 years old)

Height/weight:
182cm/72kg

Place of birth:
Tokyo

Career:
FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa → Maebashi Ikuei High School → Toyo University → Albirex Niigata



I have transferred to Celtic FC in Scotland.

I should have said goodbye to everyone who supports me before leaving Niigata, but I am sorry that I was unable to do so due to the procedures.

It has been a while since I arrived in Scotland, and I am gradually feeling that I belong to an overseas club, and my heart is burning with passion. I am truly grateful that I can take this step with confidence thanks to my teammates who competed with me at Albirex Niigata and other clubs I belonged to, the coaches who supported me, and the passion of my family and supporters who always pushed me forward. However, to be honest

, I feel a stronger desire to give back than I feel grateful. In the environment I am in, I will continue to work harder than anyone else without making excuses. I will do my best to deliver good news to everyone. Thank you so much!

From here on, I will be posting a business-related message. I would like to personally express my gratitude to all the people who supported me while I was with Albirex Niigata. In particular, I have prepared a small gift for those who purchased my uniform after I left Niigata six months after joining the team as a professional. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the club staff who made the arrangements despite the short notice. The club will be providing instructions on how to deliver the items, so please see the announcement.

 

Be interesting to see where we send him..

He will need to get used to the physicality of our game.. but it's difficult to predict without knowing much about him.. maybe Ayr or Dunfermline could work. Or maybe Queens Park get used to the City too

 

See how this pans out, never a fan of Japanese defenders, think they are absolute *, same with goalies, but heres hoping hes in the first 3 bracket of Japanese players Ange brought in as every other one was absolute pish.

 

Buying cheap Japanese players to help lenny get promoted? Seems like a plausible plan.

 

Mixed feelings after Rodgers comments really.

cons:

If a 23 year old is not ready for first team football then why are we buying him?

Adding to possible deadwood.

another wage

Pros:

cheap

low risk

could come good.


The only thing that concerns me is his age, if he was 17/18 it would be different regarding not being first team ready but he’s 23.

Hopefully we are looking to get another centre half in now since this is one for the future.

 

Really positive stuff that we're loaning him out..

I'd get him out to a Dundee or something in our league. Let him get used to the conditions and physicality..

 

The cynic in me feels this one may be more about trying to build some kind of commercial presence in Japan than expecting this guy to be a player for us.

Guy is 23y old and played one season of senior football in Japan for an average Japanese side. Physically looks miles off where he needs to be.

People will say Kyogo, Hatate, Maeda etc were bargains - but they were well established players in or about the Japan national team.

This signing looks like something altogether different.

 

Interesting comments by Rodgers, maybe he will surprise everyone but more than likely will definitely need a full season loan at lower end club to build him up and get him used to Scottish football.

It’s a cheap punt and likely on very small wages, issue with buying young players from Japan is they are already 23 by the time they breakthrough after finishing Uni/college football.

 

The commercial benefit of such a low profile player is negligible. The commercial benefit of Maeda won’t even be that tangible for us tbh.

 

Baffling signing. Seeing as how BR hasn't committed his future to Celtic i think its safe to say he had * all to do with this signing.