Former Celtic midfielder Nakamura set to leave Espanyol

FORMER Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura is to leave Espanyol and join Yokohama Marinos in his native Japan.

The Spanish club confirmed on their website that a deal is in place and the Japan international will leave in the next few days.

It had been expected that Nakamura would join Yokohama last summer when he left Parkhead after four years in Scotland, but the deal broke down and Espanyol stepped in.

The 31-year-old signed a two-year deal but has struggled for playing time in Spain. Japanese media have reported Yokohama – Nakamura's boyhood team –will fork out just over $2million for the loan deal.