Bhoys will be hoping that Yuki is just their latest gem from Japan
IN their quest to land a rising star — and on the very day Japan shocked Germany at the World Cup — it is no surprise that Celtic have turned yet again to the Land of the Rising Sun.
The signing of Yuki Kobayashi, which was officially completed yesterday, takes the number of Japanese players on the books at Parkhead to five.
If there was any doubt over the wisdom of continuing to shop in the Japanese marketplace, it was removed by yesterday’s sensational 2-1 victory for the national side over the four-times world champions Germany in Qatar.
Kobayashi, 22, is yet to make his debut for the senior Japanese side, but may still be on his way to doing so after being capped from Under-15s level up to Under-22s, and representing his nation at the Tokyo Olympics last summer.
So, what else do we know about the little-known Vissel Kobe player who has penned a five-year deal to join compatriots Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi at Ange Postecoglou’s Scottish champions?
A left-sided centre-back, who can also fill in at left-back when required, Kobayashi is a product of the Vissel Kobe youth academy after signing for the club in 2018.
The 22-year-old had loan spells at second tier J-League side Machida Zelvia and top-flight Yokohama FC — not to be confused with Postecoglou’s former club Yokohama F Marinos.
At Yokohama, Kobayashi played alongside former Celtic legend Shunsuke Nakamura before returning to Vissel Kobe to stake his claim for a regular first-team place in 2020-21.
Kobayashi initially served as an understudy to Champions League-winning former Barcelona and Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen.
And he got his chance when the veteran Belgian international represented his country at Euro 2020 last summer while the J-League continued.
After Vermaelen announced his retirement in January at the age of 37, the young defender stepped up and has become a virtual ever-present in Vissel Kobe’s J-League and Asian Champions League campaigns.
Standing at 6ft 1ins, he has a reputation as a talented ball-playing defender who likes to start attacks from the back.
Kobayashi was not called up for Qatar 2022 but he will be hoping that success at Celtic will help him book his place on the plane to Canada, Mexico and the USA for the World Cup in 2026.
After completing his move yesterday, he admitted the prospect of working alongside Postecoglou helped convince him the next chapter in his career lay in Glasgow and chasing silverware.
‘The work of Ange Postecoglou is also really well-known in Japan after he had such a great time in the J-League,’ Kobayashi told the Celtic website.
‘As well as being part of Celtic, I can’t wait to work with him as a coach and the great team of players he has already developed.
‘I am so excited to be joining Celtic and I am really looking forward to this wonderful opportunity.
‘I will be giving everything to try and be successful with the club.
‘Right across the world, everyone knows what a special club Celtic is and it will be a real honour to wear this fantastic jersey.
‘I know that Celtic over so many years has such a brilliant track record of success and I now want to play my part in bringing more great moments to the club and our fans.
‘I look forward to embracing this exciting new challenge with Celtic, one of the world’s great football clubs.’
Kobayashi was disappointed that the J-League season ended with Vissel Kobe sitting in 13th place in the table.
He admitted he harboured doubts over the timing of his departure but could not turn down the chance to play in Europe, something he has dreamed of since first kicking a ball. In a heartfelt message to fans and his former club on the Vissel Kobe website he said: ‘I have decided to transfer to Celtic FC.
‘This season ended with a disappointing result, and I wondered if I should transfer at this time, but playing in Europe has been my dream and goal since I started playing soccer. I cannot thank the club enough for understanding this timing and sending me off.
‘Ever since I entered soccer school, I have been brought up at the Vissel Kobe academy.
‘I sincerely appreciate Vissel Kobe and Vissel Academy.
‘That’s why I want to show the world the value of the Vissel Academy, and I want to be a player that the Academy’s players aim (to emulate).
‘To all our fans, thank you for always supporting us with your passion.
‘It was a special thing for me to be able to sing the Kobe anthem after the game with everyone on the pitch, which I have been singing since I was little.
‘From now on, I will do my best to grow more and more so that I can return the favour to everyone involved in this club, and to deliver success to everyone. I would appreciate it if you could continue to watch over me.’