Former Celtic star Dedryck Boyata has left Hertha Berlin to join Club Brugge, signing a three year deal with the Belgian Champions.
The Invincible central defender, left Celtic in the summer of 2019 after running down his contract following the club rejecting a £10m bid from Fulham the previous summer, amid tensions between the then Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and the boardroom.
Boyata signed a lucrative deal with Hertha Berlin and the Belgium international defender went on the captain the Bundesliga side. However, as we have reported previously on The Celtic Star, the former Celt seemed to have fallen from favour in the German capital with Hertha’s Sporting Director being particularly vocal in his view that Boyata’s time was up in Berlin.
Now that situation has been resolved with 31 year old Boyata heading home to Belgium to join Club Brugge, where ironically enough he looks like being a straight replacement for another former Celtic, Jack Hendry who has also fallen out of favour, after his £5m transfer to Brugge last summer.
“Dedryck has his accomplishments with Hertha BSC,” said Hertha managing director for sport Fredi Bobic, as reported by Bulinews.com.
“His transfer to Bruges is a good solution to all parties involved. We thank him sincerely for his commitment and wish him all the best for the future!”
Club Brugge also confirmed the transfer via a statement on their official website.
Club Brugge and Hertha BSC reached an agreement for the transfer of Dedryck Boyata.
Boyata (31) played since 2019 for Bundesliga side Hertha BSC. The central defender started his career at Manchester City before joining Celtic Glasgow. He won four titles with the Scottish top club and lifted the Scottish Cup three times, as well as the League Cup. He gathered 30 caps for Belgium.
The defender brings a lot of experience with appearances in 2 Champions League group stages, 3 Europa League group stages and 1 World Championship. He signed a contract until 2025.
Boyata will be looking to establish himself quickly in the Brugge side as he eyes a place in Roberto Martinez’s World Cup squad later this year.
He split opinions in his time at Celtic and that notorious decision not to play in the August 2018 Champions League qualifier in Athens certainly did him no favours but overall he was a decent performer for Celtic and as the Brugge statement points out, it was at Celtic were Boyata has picked up his career honours. We wish him all the best back home in Belgium.
