Celtic sign Yamada from J-League side Kawasaki Frontale

Yamada has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at Celtic Park and becomes the club’s sixth summer signing. This follows the arrivals of forwards Benjamin Nygren and Callum Osmand, defenders Hayato Inamura and Kieran Tierney and goalkeeper Ross Doohan.

“It is a huge honour for me to be here as a Celtic player and I can’t wait to begin my time at this amazing club,” he told the club media. Celtic is one of the top names in world football. I have already watched my countrymen like Daizen [Maeda], Reo [Hatate] and Kyogo [Furuhashi] do so well at Celtic and I will aim to have the same impact.

“I am my own player, though, and I am ready to face all my own challenges directly. “I want to do so well at Celtic, I know that Celtic Park is one of the best places in the world to play football with the best supporters around and I will do everything I can to make my new fans proud of me.

The 25-year-old has played in the J-League since 2023, scoring 32 goals in over 120 appearances for Kawasaki, who currently sit sixth in the Japanese top flight. However, he has managed just two goals in 21 appearances for the club this season.

Yamada made his international debut for Japan earlier this month and bid farewell to Kawasaki supporters following their elimination from the Emperor’s Cup on Wednesday.