The first new signing of the January transfer window by Fran Alonso for his Celtic FC Women side has now been confirmed. And the new Celtic star is American wingback Hana Kerner, whose signing remains subject to international clearance.
Fran Alonso told The Celtic Star last week that he was expecting to announce his first signing on Friday afternoon but was waiting on some paperwork formalities although the deal had already been done. That dragged on over the weekend and it took until this morning before the Hana Kerner signing could be formally announced.
The new Celtic wing-back is 25 years old and is the latest American to since for the Celtic FC Women side. Hopefully we’ll get the opportunity to speak to her later this week.
The Celtic FC Women manager is expecting to add one or maybe even two additional signings after the Kerner deal, with perhaps a striker expected to come in given the loss of top scorer Clarissa Larisey who joined Swedish side Hacken last week with Celtic receiving a substantial record-breaking transfer fee for the Canada international who had just six months remaining on her contract.
Larisey had been given advice from her national coach to look for a move to a fully professional league and it’s fair to say that Sweden has had a decide start on Scotland in establishing a viable, fully professional women’s league. Larisey will be hoping that playing in Sweden against better quality opposition week-in week-out will help her chances of playing in the Women’s World Cup this summer.
Welcome to Celtic Hana!
✍ #CelticFCWomen are delighted to announce the signing of American wingback Hana Kerner, subject to international clearance.
Welcome to Celtic, Hana! 🍀🇺🇸#COYGIG pic.twitter.com/l4Q3oasCwu
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) January 17, 2023
