Celtic set to sign defender Yuki Kobayashi in new J-League raid

Celtic have reportedly agreed a fee for the 22-year-old.

Celtic set to sign Vissel Kobe defender Yuki Kobayashi in new J-League raid Getty Images

Celtic are set to sign Vissel Kobe defender Yuki Kobayashi in what will be their sixth raid on Japanese football in a year and a half.

A fee has reportedly been agreed for the 22-year-old former teammate of star striker Kyogo Furuhashi to join the Hoops in January.

Kobayashi, who has represented Japan at under-20 level, is highly rated in his home country and played at the 2019 Youth World Cup in Poland.

If the deal, which has been reported in Japanese media, goes ahead, the defender will follow in the footsteps of Furuhashi and countrymen Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi to leave the J-League for Celtic Park.

Their moves follow that of manager Ange Postecoglou who left Yokohama F. Marinos for Glasgow in June 2021.

Furuhashi was one of the Australian’s first signings before Maeda, Hatate and Ideguchi joined him in January as Celtic raced towards the Premiership title.

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