Swedish cap Celtic-bound as McGeady finally exits

AIDEN McGeady has joined Spartak Moscow from Celtic on a four-year contract. The Republic of Ireland international had been linked with a move to England, but will now head to eastern Europe in a deal believed to be close to £10million.

As Celtic finally landed the bounty Neil Lennon moved quickly to make his eighth signing as it emerged Celtic were on the verge of securing 33-year-old AEK Athens defender Daniel Majstorovic. The 34-times capped Sweden internationalist, who played from the start in his country's 3-0 friendly win over Scotland in midweek, will undergo a medical in Glasgow today.

"I spent two beautiful years in Greece with AEK Athens," Majstorovic told AEK's official website yesterday. "I'm glad I had the opportunity to play at such a great team. I want to thank everyone who worked this time, and the world of the club for its support.

"For me, moving to Celtic is a very good chance and they are a major European club. Tomorrow (Saturday], I go to Glasgow to go through medical screening and then sign my contract."

Earlier in the day, Celtic were dealt a blow in their efforts to lure Craig Bellamy to the club on loan after Fulham entered the race for the Manchester City winger.

Eastlands manager Roberto Mancini confirmed yesterday in no uncertain terms that Bellamy is "yesterday's man" at Eastlands, but the intervention of Fulham manager Mark Hughes – who has worked alongside Bellamy at City, Blackburn and Wales – may scupper Celtic's hopes of bringing him back to Parkhead, where he spent a period on loan during the 2004-05 season.

The future of McGeady is at least done and dusted, and the player told Celtic's website: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Celtic for making my time here so enjoyable and memorable. Celtic is the team I have supported my while life and the Celtic fans are second to none. It is a fantastic club to play for."