Celtic confirm loan signing of Liverpool defender Nat Phillips

Celtic have confirmed the loan signing of Liverpool defender Nat Phillips.

The 26-year-old has signed a short term deal that will keep at Parkhead until January 2024.

The Scottish champions have been hit with a series of injuries to centre-backs, with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh all ruled out for the next eight weeks.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted the club will be going into the transfer market to address gaps in the squad, and Phillips was identified as a target.

He has now completed his move from Anfield ahead of the close on the window closing on Friday night.

After graduating from the Liverpool Academy he went on to make 29 appearances for the first-team, scoring one goal.

He has also previously enjoyed loan spells with Bournemouth and German side, VfB Stuttgart.

Speaking to Celtic TV, he said: “I’m really excited. When I heard about the interest it was one that got me excited.

“There were a few other options that didn’t quite make me feel the same as this one did, so I was really keen to get it over the line and I’m delighted to be here now.”

And as to why Celtic was the perfect choice for him, the new Bhoy explained, “It’s the history of the club.

“It’s such a huge club, the club’s aspirations, the level it competes at, the fact that they’re in the Champions League this year and the mentality of the club – they want to be winners in everything they do.”

Rodgers said: “We’re delighted to bring Nat to Celtic and we’re looking forward to working with him in the months ahead.

“It’s been well-documented that it’s an area of the team we needed to look at in the short-term due to a number of injuries we have experienced, and so we’re pleased that Nat will provide that defensive support in the squad.

“Nat arrives with the experience of having played for another huge club in Liverpool and those experiences will serve him well here at Celtic.

“I know that he’s delighted with this move and is looking forward to working with the rest of the squad here.”

He joins Honduras winger Luis Palma who was confirmed on a five-year-deal on Wednesday and both will go into the squad for Sunday’s game against Rangers at Ibrox.