RECORD-BREAKING ED TARGETS TREBLE
£9m Frenchman targets another clean sweep with Bhoys
CELTIC’S recordbreaking striker Odsonne Edouard targeted another Treble as he formally checked into the club on a permanent deal yesterday afternoon.
The 20-year-old striker was in Glasgow to sign a four-year contract with Celtic from PSG in a deal that will total £9m when viewed with all add-ons included.
The player is the second most expensive signing in Scottish football after the £12m that Rangers paid for Tore Andre Flo and the most expensive Celtic signing since John Hartson, whom Celtic paid Coventry £6m for in 2001. The Parkhead side paid the same for Neil Lennon and Chris Sutton but described yesterday’s signing as “the biggest transfer in Celtic’s history.”
Edouard missed the William Hill Scottish Cup final with a hamstring injury but played 29 times for the Parkhead side last term and netted 11 goals.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was vocal about his wish to keep the striker at the club on a long-term deal and Edouard has insisted he is hungry for further success with the club.
Asked about his
ambitions for the forthcoming season, Edouard was unequivocal: “Hopefully another Treble – win everything. As a striker I want to score as many goals as possible.
“Of course, the Champions League is another very important objective for me. Last season we finished third and went to the Europa League which was good but hopefully this year we can improve. First of all we need to qualify for the group stages and then see where we go from there.”
Edouard endeared himself to the Celtic support last season when he scored the winner in a 3-2 win against Rangers after Rodgers’ side came from behind to win the game and he went on to score a double against the Ibrox side in Celtic’s 5-0 rout which clinched the league title.
“The day we won the league against Rangers at Celtic Park has been one of the highlights of my time here at Celtic so far,” the striker told the club website. “At the beginning, it was a bit hard because I was adapting to a new country, a new club and new team-mates.
“I needed time to settle down. Once I did that, I started to score and really started enjoying my time here. I want to play as much as I can. I want to score more goals and I also want to win more trophies and league titles. Celtic is a club which is focused in winning and this is a good environment for me to be in.
“Celtic is one of the world’s great football clubs and I was desperate to make my move permanent.
“The scenes from May when we achieved such a historic double Treble and made the city come alive are still very fresh in our memories. I’ve learned a lot under the manager. He’s had a very important role in the development of my game. I owe him a lot for what he has done and the time he has given me. Now that I’m back here I want to continue learning from both the manager and my team-mates as well.
“I was working closely with the manager on a project and I want to finish what I had started with the manager because I feel I am improving as a player. It feels amazing to have finally signed. I’m very happy.”
Rodgers was equally enthused by the signing. “Odsonne is one of the best young players I have worked with and one of the best in Europe,” he said. “Our fans saw exactly what he is capable of last season and we look forward to working with him again as we look to build on the tremendous success we achieved last year.”