Celtic complete loan signing of defender Shane Duffy

Celtic have completed a deal to sign defender Shane Duffy on loan from Brighton for the rest of the season.

The clubs have been in talks for some time over the details of a move and Celtic will pay a significant loan fee, as well as a large part of the player’s wages.

The Republic of Ireland international will move to Glasgow at the end of the current international break. His national side play Bulgaria on Thursday and Finland three days later.

“I really am delighted to sign this deal with Celtic,” Duffy said. “It is a huge honour for me to join Celtic, such a huge institution and a brilliant football club that I have always loved and admired

“It will be a fantastic personal moment for me when I pull on the Celtic jersey. It’s just a great feeling – I could not be happier to be part of the club now and I just can’t wait to start working with the manager, the staff and the players when I return from international duty with Ireland.

“We will be challenging on a lot of fronts this season and I am really excited about getting going, as we try and bring the fans more and more success.”

Duffy has been at Brighton since 2016 and was part of the side that won promotion to the Premier League the following year. He has made more than 100 appearances for the club, the majority being in England’s top flight.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon made it clear he wanted to add a central defender during this transfer window after the departure of Jozo Simunovic, with Duffy being their number one target.

Lennon said: “We are delighted to bring a player of Shane’s quality to Celtic. He is an international player with so many great attributes. He is leader and he’s a warrior – someone with real ability and who will also give us that great physical presence.

“I know too he is a player who will add great personality to the dressing room.

“This is a real coup for the club. From the off, Shane wanted to come to Celtic and we are delighted we have been able to fend off English Premier League interest. “

The 28-year-old, who has 33 international caps, will now compete for a place in Lennon’s side as they aim for a record tenth consecutive league title.

Duffy becomes Celtic’s fifth summer signing after the arrivals of Mohamed Elyounoussi, Vasilis Barkas, Albian Ajeti and David Turnbull.