Celtic take Japan’s Hiroki Yamada on trial

JAPAN midfielder Hiroki Yamada has been training with Celtic in a bid to win a deal with the Scottish champions, it has been revealed.
Hiroki Yamada has been training with Celtic this week. Picture: GettyHiroki Yamada has been training with Celtic this week. Picture: Getty
Hiroki Yamada has been training with Celtic this week. Picture: Getty

The 24-year-old, who is currently with J-League club Jubilo Iwata in his homeland, was in the stands for Celtic’s 1-0 win over Hibernian at Parkhead on Saturday, and Hoops boss Neil Lennon expressed his desire earlier this month to see the midfielder in the flesh.

Capped twice for Japan, Yamada can play on the left or off the striker.

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Lennon told The Herald: “He looks okay, but we’ll not have a real idea until we’ve seen him over here. I don’t think there would be any money involved.”

The Celtic boss has been mulling over possible additions to his squad come next month’s transfer window, with the aim of bedding them in between January and July for the European qualifiers should the Hoops win the Scottish Premiership.

Should he join Celtic, Yamada, who has made over 100 appearances for Jubilo Iwata and contributed 22 goals, would become the third Japanese international to turn out for the club, after Shunsuke Nakamura and Koki Mizuno.

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