Hayato Inamura has left Celtic to join FC Tokyo.
Just a year on from being brought to Glasgow from Albirex Niigata for just £250,000, he has completed a permanent return to Japan.
Unconfirmed reports have claimed that Tokyo have paid more than £1 million to sign Inamura, which would represent an unlikely profit for the Celts.
Regardless, it marks the end of a Parkhead career which consisted of just one competitive appearance.
Were Celtic wrong to not give Hayato Inamura a chance at Celtic?
Does he still have a future at the club?
Hayato Inamura leaves Celtic to join FC Tokyo permanently: ‘I’m determined to fight’
Inamura’s move was confirmed by both clubs on social media on Friday, the first day of Celtic’s pre-season preparations
Reuniting with boss Rikizo Matsuhashi, whom he played under in Niigata, Inamura is targeting a first-ever J-League title for the capital club.
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He told the website: “I’m happy to be joining FC Tokyo on a permanent transfer and will be playing for them from next season onwards.
“I’m determined to fight to become a part of Tokyo’s history.
“I believe that if we continue to work hard while feeling the joy of wearing this blue and red uniform, we can definitely achieve our goals.
“Let’s win the championship!”
Through no fault of his own, he was caught up in a controversy surrounding what Brendan Rodgers described as “club signings”, doubtless a factor in the Irishman’s eventual resignation.
The left-footed defender played in Celtic’s friendly against Newcastle in July, putting in a solid performance.
He was also handed a start by Rodgers out of nowhere against Livingston, playing the full 90 minutes and once again looking like a competent player.
But with so many left-sided defenders ahead of him in the pecking order, his signing looked more and more baffling with each week – he wasn’t even registered for the Europa League.
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Hayato Inamura’s reflection on his spell at Celtic
Speaking about his Celtic spell back in January: “To be honest, I haven’t had enough time to fully process my time at Celtic in my mind yet.
“I felt ashamed and felt like I couldn’t change anything, no matter what. Recently, more and more players are going overseas, so I felt it was shameful to come back to Japan after only six months.
“But I don’t think it’s the end for my career to go back to Japan, and I want to work hard for this team so that my career can take off again.
“It was a difficult time and I didn’t play. I often had to train with just three other players. I sometimes wondered: ‘Am I actually a football player?’
“I began to feel anxious and wondered if I would ever play a match again.
“A variety of emotions welled up inside me during that period. But, having the time to reflect on this has allowed me to recognise my weaknesses.
“I truly felt I had hit the bottom, so I believe I can only improve from here. I also felt embarrassed for my former club at Albirex Niigata because I didn’t live up to their expectations.
“But I hope this change can help me return to where I was before I left.”
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