Brendan Rodgers: Celtic '˜beat 24 clubs to signing of Charly Musonda'

Charly Musonda arrives at Glasgow Airport ahead of his loan move to Celtic. Picture: SNS Group

The 21-year-old arrived in Glasgow on Monday morning to sign an 18-month loan deal with the Parkhead club following a medical.

The Belgium Under-21 player has made seven appearances for Chelsea this season since returning from a loan spell at Spanish side Real Betis.

Musonda is slated to go into the Hoops squad for the Ladbrokes Premiership clash with Hearts at Parkhead on Tuesday night.

“Subject to a medical today, it is a really exciting prospect for the club,” the Celtic boss said.

“Charly is a big talent that I’ve known for a few years now.

“Firstly, if it all goes through, it is a big thank you for Chelsea because he is really one of the shining lights within the academy and has progressed through with various loans out and obviously has been part of the first team squad.

“I think there was something up to 24 clubs interested in taking Charly so for him to want to come to here and Chelsea very happily to want him to come is a great coup for us as a football club.

“It is also a great opportunity for Charly to show his talent.

“He is a very exciting player, very dynamic, wonderful ability on the ball, works very hard, loves his football and he is a bright player.

“We have had a number of injuries to our creative players and he will add that creativity to that game and I am really excited to work with him.”

Rodgers is confident that Musonda, who began his career at Anderlecht before moving to Stamford Bridge at the age of 16, has arrived in Scotland ready to get started immediately.

The former Swansea and Liverpool boss said: “He came on against Brighton and made a wonderful pass and set up the fourth goal.

“He is also a naturally fit boy as well.

“Everything has gone through today and we can hopefully make him available for tomorrow night and he can get up and running straight away.”

Hearts ended Celtic’s 69-game domestic unbeaten run with a 4-0 victory at Tynecastle in December but Rodgers has been pleased with how his side have responded.

The Northern Irishman said: “We deservedly lost on the day, that was pretty clear. Hearts coped with the conditions better than us and deserved the victory.

“But I liked judging a team in their response. We were always going to lose at some point and if you look at the reaction, we have played seven games, won six, drew one, and kept a clean sheet in all of them bar one, which was a penalty away at Partick Thistle.

“So it is a great testament to the players and their focus and mentality, and hopefully we will get another good result tomorrow.”