£3.5m Israeli winger Abada sets sights on winning title
New Celtic signing Liel Abada has set his sights on snatching the league title back from Rangers after sealing a move to the Scottish Premiership giants.
The 19-year-old Israeli winger’s transfer was completed on Wednesday afternoon as he put pen to paper on a fiveyear deal.
He moves from Maccabi Petah Tikva for a reported fee of £3.5 million and will be expected to push for a regular first-team place under new boss Ange Postecoglou at Celtic Park this season.
Having made his international debut for Israel this summer, Adaba insists he’s ready to hit the ground running for his new employers as he spoke of his wonder at joining such “a huge club”.
He told the Celtic website: “It feels amazing to sign for a club like Celtic. This is a huge club and it's an honour.
“Pre-season for me has been good. I was playing international football and have been training in pre-season so I am feeling good and ready to play. My main aim to help the team win the title.
“That’s my focus and I will give everything I have in training and out on the pitch to help the club achieve this.”
Adaba becomes Celtic's fourth signing of the summer alongside fellow fresh-faced new recruits in the form of 18-year-old Scunthorpe United attacker Joey Dawson, and Sheffield Wednesday pair Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide.
Though he doesn't turn 20 until October, the versatile forward played over 70 times in the Israeli top flight for Petah Tikva, who finished fifth in the table last term.
Carl Starfelt is due to undergo a medical ahead of a move to join Postecoglou’s squad. The Ruben Kazan centre-back will be put through his paces and checks in Moscow ahead of a deal worth £4.3m, according to reports in Sweden.
The 26-year-old centre-half has spent two years in Russia, and helped Kazan to fourth in the league last year with the country’s second best defensive record.
Starfelt emerged as a transfer target for Postecoglou at the end of last week with Celtic short of numbers at the back.
Kristoffer Ajer has been linked with a move out of Celtic Park, and Christopher Jullien is still recovering from his knee injury sustained last year.
Celtic wrapped up their preseason trip to Wales and England with a goalless draw at Bristol City last night but the post-match medical bulletin will be of more concern than the scoreline for Postecoglou.
Injury worries over Vasilis Barkas, Mikey Johnston, Karamoko Dembele and Ismaila Soro emerged over the course of an evening when Celtic lacked the cutting edge necessary to earn a victory which their performance merited.
There was better news for Postecoglou, however, when striker Leigh Griffiths was yesterday cleared by the authorities over allegations of sending inappropriate messages to an underage girl.
Police said there was "no criminality" after they carried out a "full assessment" following claims the 30-yearold sent improper messages to a 15-year-old girl, as well as another teenager, on social media.