Eboue was swayed by the chance to join Toure
New Celtic midfielder salutes ‘big man’
KOUASSI EBOUE, Celtic’s new midfielder, has stated his desire to work with Ivory Coast legend Kolo Toure as one of the main reasons for coming to the Scottish champions. The 19-year-old expressed his delight at joining Celtic on a four-year deal from Russian side Krasnodar on the back of almost a week-long saga waiting on his work visa being granted. Eboue has spent the whole time in Dubai with his new team-mates on their winter break. However, red tape meant he was unable to fully train with Brendan Rodgers’s squad. He flew to Russia yesterday to complete the process, with Celtic later announcing the move had been agreed as the paperwork fell into place. When asked if the prospect in teaming up with Toure, who won the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast in 2015, had swayed his decision, he said: “Yes, because Kolo is a big man. When I was young I watched TV and supported him and now when I think I’ll play alongside him I’m really happy. “When I knew he was here I a s ke d about Celtic and I’m happy to be here with him. I will learn with him and Celtic has many good players so I will learn with them too. “I knew of Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair and the captain, Scott Brown as well. I knew of Dedryck Boyata as well from when he played at Manchester City.”
He added: “I spoke with some friends, my older brothers [players] in the senior team and they said to go to Celtic because it was good for me. I also spoke to Serges Deble [Ivorian internationalist], who plays for Viborg, and he told me to come and play as well.”
Eboue has started out his career in his homeland before a switch to Armenian side Shirak in 2014. After two years he then moved to Krasnodar, the team he has featured 15 times for this season across the Russian and Europa League.
“I’m very happy to sign for Celtic because Celtic is a big, historic club,” Eboue said. “I had many options but I chose to come to Celtic because they have a good ambition and project here. I want to move forward and progress and I think Celtic is a good club for me to do that. Celtic also have a good coach in Brendan Rodgers so he can help me to develop.”
Meanwhile, Celtic manager Rodgers insists the club will stick to their business plan of refusing to sell Moussa Dembele this window, even if an offer is tabled that matches their valuation.
West Ham are just one of a host of clubs interested in the 20-year-old French forward, who already has 19 goals domestically and on the European stage since joining from Fulham in the summer. His arrival in Glasgow last year was seen as a coup at the time and his rising form, goal tally and stock have only increased the striker’s price tag.
It is an interest that Rodgers understands and expects as Dembele continues to gather suitors in the Barclays Premier League. However, the Northern Irishman, has reiterated that he will not be sold over the coming