Hayato Inamura is a player Celtic fans have been keeping an eagle eye on in recent times.
With Brendan Rodgers looking to add quality to his defence this summer, the Albirex Niigata centre-back is a man in demand, including from the champions of Scotland.
The 2024/25 European season might be over, but over in Japan, the J1-League started in February, and Celtic transfer target Inamura has been in the thick of the action.
As Celtic’s pre-season plans are underway for the 2025/26 season, Inamura has already played 16 league matches for Albirex Niigata.
On Sunday, the 23-year-old was in action, in what could be his final match for Albirex Niigata, and it’s one he will want to forget.
Hayato Inamura’s stats as Albirex Niigata are thrashed by Machida Zelvia
Inamura played the entire game, but he was unable to stop Machida Zelvia from running riot and scoring four goals against his team.
Sofascore weren’t too complementary with how they rated Inamura’s performance because he was handed a rating of 6.4 – only two other outfield players were rated lower (6.1).
- Minutes played: 90
- Clearances: 7
- Blocked shots: 2
- Total tackles: 1
- Ground duels won: 1/1
- Aerial duels won: 3/7
- Possession lost: 12
- Touches: 71
- Accurate passes: 47/58
- Key Passes: 1
- Long balls: 4/11
Celtic expected to sign Inamura
Before the game, reports were coming from Japan that Albirex Niigata’s game against Machida Zelvia would be Inamura’s last, and he would then join Celtic.
Rodgers has already signed three new players this season – Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, and Benjamin Nygren.
If this Inamura deal goes through, then it will be left-field, but a market that has worked for Celtic before, as well as a much-needed left-sided centre-back.
Other areas need filling in this window:
- Striker
- Left-sided winger
- Defensive midfielder
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