NafisaCeltic’s summer transfer business is expected to focus heavily on strengthening Martin O’Neill’s squad, but departures are also likely to play an important role as the club reshapes its roster ahead of the new campaign.
Over the last few seasons, the Hoops have built a reputation for identifying talent from overseas markets, particularly in Asia, with varying levels of success.
While some arrivals have gone on to become key contributors at Parkhead, others have struggled to force their way into the first-team picture.
Competition for places remains fierce at Celtic, and for players unable to establish themselves quickly, opportunities can become difficult to find.
As a result, several fringe members of the squad are now facing uncertain futures as the club prepares for another busy summer window.
One player who appears to be heading for the exit door is a defender whose spell in Glasgow never truly got off the ground.
According to reports emerging from Japan, Celtic have agreed a deal that will see Hayato Inamura leave the club permanently just one year after arriving in Scotland.
The Japanese defender joined the Hoops from Albirex Niigata last summer in a deal worth around £250,000 and signed a four-year contract after being viewed as a player with long-term potential.
However, breaking into Celtic’s first team proved far more difficult than expected.
The 24-year-old managed only a single senior appearance before being sent out on loan to FC Tokyo in January in search of regular playing time.
His performances back in Japan appear to have convinced FC Tokyo to move ahead with a permanent transfer.
Reports claim an agreement has now been reached between the two clubs, with the deal believed to be worth approximately €1.5million (£1.3million).
If completed, Celtic will secure a sizeable profit on a player who made only one competitive appearance during his time at Parkhead.
Inamura previously admitted that the lack of opportunities at Celtic came as a surprise and spoke openly about his desire to play more consistently.
He said: “I didn’t expect it to be so tough to get opportunities. I just want to play regularly and show what I can do.”
For Celtic, the transfer would represent another example of the club successfully recovering value from a signing who failed to establish himself in the first-team setup.
For Inamura, meanwhile, the move offers a fresh opportunity to rebuild momentum in an environment where he is likely to feature far more regularly than he did in Glasgow.
Barring any late complications, the defender’s Celtic chapter now appears to be coming to an end, with FC Tokyo set to become his permanent home after a brief and largely frustrating spell at Parkhead.
Nafisa
