New Celtic signing makes Thomas Vermaelen claim

Celtic are already well advanced in their transfer plans and deals with Japanese centre-back, Yuki Kobayashi, already confirmed as a new signing before the winter window even opens. Alistair Johnston looks to be next in line to be signed, once his time at the World Cup with Canada comes to an end after the group stages. It is still November!

Although the Hoops’ new Japanese Bhoy can’t play before January, he is expected to be joining up with his new teammates at the training camp in Portugal this week. Ahead of that camp Kobayashi’s previous club, Vissel Kobe, said their farewell and wished him good luck in Glasgow.

Warm messages on Vissel Kobe’s Twitter were accompanied by a video, on their official YouTube account, all about Kobayashi and his move.

In the video, Kobayashi praised his ex-teammate in Japan, Thomas Vermaelen. The two were together at Vissel Kobe for a while with the Belgian joining in July 2019 from Barcelona before retiring in January this year.

New Celtic signing speaks very highly of Vermaelen

As reported by the Scottish Daily Express, Kobayashi said about the former Barcelona star:

"“I learned so much from him. He showed so much hunger and desire to go and win the ball. I was fantastic to see and it taught me how to play like that.“It was a pleasure to be able to gain that experience of working with him. He has helped me achieve my dream.”"

Vermaelen’s tremendous experience with 85 caps for Belgium and playing time with Ajax, Arsenal and Barcelona has led to him being part of the Belgium coaching team in Qatar for the World Cup.

Vermaelen surely will have offered plenty of learning for Kobayashi to take on board. Everyone at Celtic will be keen to see their new signing put that into practice soon in the Hoops. Let’s see how things go for him in Glasgow.

He will have some tough competition for his spot in the team, with Celtic already having players like Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt, Stephen Welsh and Moritz Jenz. Kobayashi is pretty highly rated from his time in Japan though, and someone who could potentially make an impact in the first-team.