Celtic target lands World Cup audition as Nicolas Kuhn's Ajax compensation fee revealed
Celtic target Shin Yamada has earned a first international call-up with Japan.
The Kawasaki Frontale striker has been linked with Celts as Brendan Rodgers seeks to bolster his frontline this summer.
Yamada is among the most prolific forwards in the J1 League but his goals have dried up this season, netting just six times across all competitions.
Despite his dip in form, the 25-year-old has earned a chance to shine ahead of next summer's World Cup as boss Hajime Moriyasu named a squad of J League players to feature in a three-game summer tournament against Hong Kong, China and South Korea.
Yamada beamed: "I've been aiming to represent Japan, so I'm happy. As for the World Cup, there will be a chance depending on how well I do in this tournament, so I want to make a strong showing."
Meanwhile, Ajax will only be due a small fraction of the £17.2million bonanza coming Celtic's way as Nicolas Kuhn finalises a move to Como.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reported on Friday that the Dutch giants would be entitled to a fee for the German winger - who is posed to undergo a medical with Como early next week.
Kuhn came through the ranks at the Amsterdam Arena but never made a competitive first-team appearance before departing for Bayern Munich.
It's believed Ajax will only bank around £170k as training compensation - a minor expense for the Scottish champions.
Elsewhere, Feyenoord have given up on their pursuit of ex- Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-Gyu after seeing a £9million bid rejected by Genk.
The South Korean powerhouse quit Parkhead for Belgium in a £3.5m deal last summer but has mostly been used from the bench.
He still scored nine goals in his debut campaign and attracted interest from Eredivisie heavyweights Feyenoord.
However, the Rotterdam club are set to turn their attentions elsewhere, with Spartak Moscow frontman Manfred Ugalde now said to be a top target.
Finally, Celtic flop Yuki Kobayashi has joined for Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok after only a year in Portugal with Portimonense.
The Japanese defender was binned by Brendan Rodgers last summer and kick-started his career in the Portuguese second tier.
Now the 24-year-old will test his luck in Poland after putting pen to paper on a three-year contract.
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
10 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Wales losing run extends to 18 defeats after late capitulation against Japan
First-half tries from Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers, as well as a penalty try and a Sam Costelow conversion, gave Wales a 19-7 interval lead and hopes of a first victory since beating Georgia at the 2023 World Cup 21 months ago. But Japan dominated the second half and tries from Takuro Matsunaga, Ichigo Nakakusu and Halatoa Vailea, plus nine points from the boot of Seungsin Lee, piled on more misery for Wales. 🚨 𝙎𝙜ô𝙧 𝙏𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙡 | 🇯🇵24-19🏴#WelshRugby | #JPNvWAL — Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) July 5, 2025 Brave Blossoms boss Eddie Jones said he had hoped for a hot day to 'run Wales off their feet' and the oppressive conditions – with the temperature above 30 degrees Celsius as well as high humidity – meant water breaks in each half and an extended interval. A slippery ball produced countless handling errors and there was often little rhythm to a disrupted contest that took over two hours to complete. Taulupe Faletau, Nicky Smith, Ben Thomas and Blair Murray survived from the 68-14 thrashing to England in the Six Nations as interim head coach Matt Sherratt made 11 changes. Number eight Faletau – the fifth-most capped Welshman – made his 109th appearance but it was largely an inexperienced line-up with six starters having fewer than 10 caps. Wales' fall from grace had left them in 12th place on World Rugby's rankings table, one spot above Japan, and it was very much a meeting between two teams in transition. There was a worrying start to the contest as Ben Carter took a hit to the side of the head inside 30 seconds. Carter slumped to the ground after attempting to make a tackle and there was a lengthy stoppage before the second row forward was taken away on a stretcher. Wales immediately shrugged off that blow as Faletau exploited space profited from a line-out ploy to send Thomas over with a well-timed pass and Costelow converted. Japan were on the backfoot and struggling to get out of their own half, but scored from their first attack after 16 minutes as winger Kippei Ishida sliced through midfield to set up Matsunaga and Lee's kick restored parity. Wales hit the front again with a penalty try after Nakakusu, who had replaced the injured Matsunaga moments earlier, deliberately slapped the ball away as Josh Adams closed on Kieran Hardy's chip by the try line. Nakakusu suffered further punishment with a yellow card, and Wales took advantage of their extra man after Japan had found touch from the kick-off. Faletau broke away from a scrum going backwards and Hardy, Costelow and Johnny Williams moved the ball on for Rogers to scamper into the corner. The tide turned in the second half as Amato Fakatava saw his effort ruled out for a Shinobu Fujiwara knock-on, but Japan were not to be denied after going through the phases. Rogers slipped off a tackle and Nakakusu dived over with Lee adding the extras and soon reducing the deficit to two points with a penalty. Japan got their noses in front for the first time as replacement Vailea barged over and Lee's sparked celebrations that continued until the final whistle. The two-match series will conclude in Kobe next Saturday.
BBC News
22 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Como to pay Celtic £16.5m for Kuhn'
The transfer fee agreed with Como for Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn is £16.5m, with the clubs ironing out the finer details of potential add-ons. (Anthony Joseph on X), externalBrentford, Fenerbahce, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are all keen on Celtic forward Daizen Maeda, but they will have to pay more than £25m to persuade the Scottish champions to part with the 27-year-old Japan international. (Football Insider), externalCeltic centre-back Maik Nawrocki has completed a medical with Hannover 96 as the 24-year-old prepares for a season-long loan to the Bundesliga 2 club. (Sky Sports), externalRead Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.
BBC News
31 minutes ago
- BBC News
Sciver-Brunt to miss rest of India T20 series
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 series against India with a groin 32-year-old suffered the injury in Tuesday's second T20 defeat and missed Friday's third will miss the games at Old Trafford on Wednesday and Edgbaston on 12 June, with Tammy Beaumont continuing to lead the side. However she is expected to be fit for the three one-day internationals that follow from 16 matches will be England's last in the format before the 50-over World Cup in the won Friday's third T20 by five runs to keep the series alive following defeats in the opening two games.
