Former £3.6m Celtic ace 'happier' after transfer departure as international jets in for Hoops medical

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is set to be handed a transfer boost as he edges closer to his second signing of the summer.

The Hoops are currently in the United States ahead of a trio of pre-season friendlies, but have so far only added goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo to their squad as they prepare for games against DC United, Chelsea and Manchester City over the next 10 days. Aston Villa stopper Sinisalo completed his reported £1 million move from the EPL outfit earlier this week after impressing on loan at Exeter City last season.

Rodgers has been keen to add to his goalkeeping options this summer after the retirement of Joe Hart and now looks set to be boosted by the arrival of Denmark international goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who is ready to join his new team mates in Washington DC after reports claim he has passed his Celtic Park medical. The 37-year-old Dane completed his medical examination on Tuesday and will now pen a one-year deal in Glasgow as he links back up with his former Leicester City boss ahead of the 24/25 Scottish Premiership campaign.

However, one ex-Celtic ace who is already in the USA following his departure from the club earlier in the year has revealed he is beginning to ‘find happiness’ again after a difficult end to his Hoops career.

Forward Liel Abada was a huge hit at Celtic Park following his arrival in 2021 and was awarded the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year in his first season at the club. However, the Israel international departed to join MLS outfit Charlotte FC in March for a reported deal of around £8 million after being left out of the Hoops squad due to ‘personal reasons’ amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

"I had like a tough year last season,” said Abada. “But I’m starting to feel really good. I’m really happy to be here. "I’ve had so much support from the staff, from the coaches, from players, from the fans, and you know, I feel like it’s home here so it's a really good place for me. The MLS is a really good league with really good players. In Israel we have so many good talents, young players, and I think it would be good for them, but you know, I cannot control who comes here or not.”

The 22-year-old is set to play for his country in the Paris Olympics this year and is looking forward to representing the nation on the world stage in the coming weeks. “It’s really big I think for me,” he said. “It's a dream. When you start playing football, you dream to play in the national team. I’m really looking forward to play in the Olympics. For the country as well. It's something big, something historic for Israel, especially at this time and we are really waiting for this Olympics.”

Celtic play DC United this Sunday as part of their US tour, with the game set to kick off at 12.30am UK time at Audi Field.