Hayato Inamura to Celtic transfer on the brink as timeline for 'expected' Albirex Niigata arrival revealed
The Japanese youngster is reportedly on Brendan Rodgers' radar
Albirex Niigata defender Hayato Inamura will complete a move to Celtic next week, according to a report.
The left-sided centre back only joined Albi last summer and has made 15 league appearances in Japan's top tier, with his side currently in the midst of a relegation battle.
While more midfield players are high on Brendan Rodgers ' wish list following the capture of Benjamin Nygren, Inamura, 23, is said to be a summer transfer target for the Hoops and reports in Japan claim that a deal is almost done.
Sponichi state that Inamura will play his final game for his current club against Machida Zelvia on Sunday before jetting off to Europe to undergo a medical and put pen to paper at Parkhead.
The left-sided defender stands at 6ft tall and is a renowned set piece specialist. Should he make the switch to Glasgow's East End then he will become the ninth Japanese export to pull on the famous green and white.
Curren Celtic stars Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate have become fan's favourites since their respective arrivals in 2022 and both have been linked with big money moves elsewhere this summer.
Compatriot Kyogo Furuhashi enjoyed three and a half productive seasons with the club before joining Rennes in a £10million deal last January.
Tomoki Iwata left the club last summer to join Birmingham while Yosuke Ideguchi and Yuki Kobayashi were also moved on after failing to make an impact.
Winger Koki Mizuno made 12 appearances for the Hoops between 2008 and 2010 and he was preceded by arguably the most celebrated Japanese player at Parkhead - Shunsuke Nakamura.
After arriving from Italian side Reggina in 2005, the former midfield maestro went onto net 34 times in 166 appearances, including two memorable free-kicks in the Champions League against Manchester United.
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