All eight Japanese players to play for Celtic as Hayato Inamura closes in on move…
As Hayato Inamura edges closer to completing his move to Celtic, he is set to become the ninth Japanese player to wear the famous green and white hoops. The club’s strong Japanese connection began with Shunsuke Nakamura, who dazzled fans between 2005 and 2009 with his free-kick mastery and creative brilliance.
More recently, Ange Postecoglou’s reign ushered in a new wave of Japanese stars. Kyogo Furuhashi quickly became a fan favourite with his clinical finishing and movement. Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda brought energy, versatility, and attacking flair, while Yuki Kobayashi and Tomoki Iwata added depth to the defensive and midfield lines. Yosuke Ideguchi, though hampered by injuries, was also part of this Japanese revolution.
Kwon Hyeok-kyu, though South Korean, arrived alongside several Japanese players and often gets mistakenly included in the group. However, the confirmed Japanese eight are Nakamura, Kyogo, Maeda, Hatate, Iwata, Kobayashi, Ideguchi, and now soon Inamura.
Celtic’s success with Japanese signings has not only broadened the club’s international appeal but also strengthened its on-field competitiveness. With Inamura set to join, fans will be hoping he becomes the next standout from the Land of the Rising Sun to shine at Parkhead.
