Diego Laxalt joins Celtic on loan from AC Milan as Hoops bring in Uruguayan internationalist

27-year-old signs season-long loan deal

Diego Laxalt in action for Uruguay at the 2018 World Cup in Russia

Celtic have completed the signing of Uruguayan internationalist Diego Laxalt on a season-long loan from AC Milan.

The 27-year-old is the Hoops’ sixth signing of the summer transfer window, and third temporary arrival after Shane Duffy and Mohamed Elyounoussi.

Laxalt was born in Montevideo and began his career with Defensor Sporting before earning a move to Italy with Inter Milan. However, he didn’t make a first-team appearance in three years and was instead farmed out on loan to Bologna, Empoli, and Genoa.

He joined Genoa permanently in 2016 and was team-mates with current Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham, who had joined the Italians on loan from Manchester City.

In August 2018 Laxalt was transferred to AC Milan and played under former Rangers midfielder Gennaro Gattuso. He made 29 appearances for the Rossoneri before joining up with Torino for the first half of the 2019/20 campaign.

He returned to the San Siro in January and was mostly an unused sub for the remainder of the season bar four appearances that came after football in Italy had restarted following the shutdown as a result of coronavirus.

Laxalt has 24 caps for Uruguay and featured for the South Americans at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2019 Copa America.

Neil Lennon had been keen to bring in a left-sided player following Boli Bolingoli’s exit on loan to Turkish side İstanbul Başakşehir and the Parkhead side had been linked with a string of options including Preston North End’s Ben Davies, Bristol City winger Niclas Eliasson, and Charlton Athletic full-back Alfie Doughty.