Celtic finally confirm latest signing Jonathan Afolabi

CELTIC have this morning finally confirmed that the club has signed Jonathan Afolabi on a three-year deal. The 19-year-old forward has joined the club from Southampton.

He will be re-united with some of his Ireland Under 19 team-mates at Celtic as both Luca Connell and Barry Coffey are already at the club. Afolabi is likely to be in the Development side so is not a first team signing at this stage anyway, with Neil Lennon saying at the weekend that he’ll be having a look at him in training before deciding if he’s ready to make the jump up.

There was some confusion on Celtic sites and social media over the past few days about the delay in the club formally announcing the signing of Jonathan Afolabi. Neil Lennon spoke about the signing after the game against Dunfermline on Saturday in the Betfred Cup – which Afolabi attended – but there had been no formal announcement on the club’s website or social media channels, which usually happens as soon as a new player signed

Speaking to Celtic TV, Afolabi has talked up his move and is impressed so far by what he’s seen at Celtic’s Academy set-up.

“It’s been great so far. This is a big move for me and everything has been going well so far. The boys have been very welcoming, the fans have been great as well, and I’m delighted to be part of this family now. I can’t wait to drive forward from here,” the new signing said, as reported by the official Celtic website.

“I know Luca Connell from when we travelled to Russia to play in the European Qualifiers for the Ireland Under-19s, and I likewise know Barry Coffey from the international set-up too.

“Celtic is just a stand-out team for me, and they have a great reputation of bringing youngsters from the Academy through the ranks. This is a great club, with a great history, and a great place for me to be a part of. I look forward to helping out in the seasons ahead.

“The club has great facilities, and a great winning mentality, which is what I want to be a part of. My goal here is to be part of a winning squad, adopt that winning mentality, and learn from the boys. If I can learn from the senior players, I’ll hopefully have the chance to play in front of these great fans.

“With such a talented pool of players, it’s going to take time and hard work to break in, to prove myself to the manager and the dressing room – but that’s something I would have to do anyway. Hopefully I can get a bit of time on the pitch in the future to showcase what I’ve got.”

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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