Celtic miss out on Japanese transfer target to Eintracht Frankfurt

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If Celtic’s January transfer window is anything like the summer one, we are in for a long 31 days.

And we are already getting flashbacks, after one Hoops summer target was confirmed to have joined German giants Eintracht Frankfurt.

Keita Kosugi was a revelation for Djugardens in Sweden in 2025, catching the eye of Celtic and others. But ahead of the winter window, he has now completed his move.

Celtic were eyeing the left-back in the summer, but the Swedish club insisted that they wanted to hold onto their star talent until the end of their season.

With the Swedish season now over, the 19-year-old has completed the step up to the Bundesliga.

Celtic target Keita Kosugi joins Bundesliga giants

Most Japanese players are nearing their mid-20s by the time they make their move to European football.

But Kosugi took a different route, engineering a move to Sweden on his 18th birthday, before he had even made a senior appearance for Shonan Bellmare.

READ MORE: Celtic fans given further insight into Brendan Rodgers’ final week and ‘frustrations’

After breaking into the side in the Allsvenskan, he went on to have an outstanding Conference League campaign, starring in wins against Panathinaikos, Rapid Vienna and Legia Warsaw.

They eventually met Chelsea in the quarter final, in which Kosugi started both legs.

At 5ft 8in tall, Kosugi is in the Greg Taylor mould of left-backs, able to invert into midfield and look comfortable in possession. He is, however, noticeably faster than Taylor.

At just 19, he is seen as one of the nation’s biggest wonderkids, but is yet to make his senior debut for the Samurai Blue.

He continues a tradition of Japanese internationals at Frankfurt. He will link up with national star Ritsu Doan at the club.

Makoto Hasebe and Daichi Kamada both hold legendary status at the club for the parts they played in their 2022 Europa League campaign, in which they beat Rangers in the final.

Kosugi sadly won’t be playing a part in any European success for Celtic any time soon.

Who else are Celtic targeting ahead of January?

Kosugi is a defender, and it’s pretty inarguable that Celtic could do with some reinforcements at centre back in the winter window.

Despite this, the majority of reported targets have been in midfield and attack. David Watson, Mateusz Bogusz and Hossam Essadak are among the midfielders who have been linked.

In terms of centre forwards, there are plenty of names in the rumour mill, including Louis Munteanu, Michael Noonan and Evan Ferguson.

But if (I must stress, if) Wilfried Nancy is still in charge in January, Columbus Crew and Palestine striker Wessam Abou Ali looks the most likely striker addition.