Transfer Latest – Celtic confirm first January departure

Celtic the morning officially confirmed that Yosuke Ideguchi has left to club to sign for J-League Champions Vissel Kobe on a permanent transfer. Celtic also wished Yosuke the best of luck at his new club.

The Celtic Star reported on 23 December that Celtic had agreed a €1 million fee from Vissel Kobe for Yosuke Ideguchi and this appears to have been the case.

Celtic have agreed a €1 million with Japanese Champions Vissel Kobe for the signature of Yosuke Ideguchi – this deal will give Celtic a financial boost of around £870k and will start the process of reducing the squad size to allow Brendan Rodgers room to shape the squad to his own liking.

The 27-year-old was at the centre of a battle between Vissel Kobe and his current loan club Avispa Fukuoka, who Ideguchi helped win the Japanese League Cup this season. Ideguchi was injured on his Celtic debut in a Scottish Cup tie away to Alloa Athletic and never really gained any traction in the Celtic first team after that.

His loan move to Avispa Fukuoka has however been hugely successful with silverware won and a nomination for J-League Player of the Year and there was even talk of an international recall for the Asian Cup, which didn’t happen.

Ideguchi suffered an ankle break in one of his first games back in March, but recovered quickly and went on to have an outstanding season resulting in a bidding war which Vissel Kobe have won.

Yosuke Ideguchi of Japan in action during the match between Japan and Ghana at Nissan Stadium.. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)

It’s a great deal all round and we can all surely wish Yosuke Ideguchi all the very best. Just a pity we never got to see him at his best in the Hoops, but these things happen in football.

Yosuke Ideguchi has today joined J.League Champions, @visselkobe on a permanent transfer.

Best of luck, Yosuke! 🍀 pic.twitter.com/GyISkx307T

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 9, 2024

Yosuke Ideguchi on Instagram💚

💬 "I'II never forget my memories of Glasgow. Thank you for all of you. I'm cheering you on from Japan. Thank you🍀"@CelticFC @visselkobe pic.twitter.com/MkLwpQWAvr

— Yatao (@yataoda4) January 9, 2024