Japan forward Yamada joins Celtic on four-year deal

Shin Yamada, a Japanese international, has signed for Celtic from Kawasaki Frontale for four years.

Since 2023, the 25-year-old has made 32 goals in 121 club appearances and has been a force in the J-League.

Manager Brendan Rodgers reported to club media, “He is a strong player who can score goals for others and create goals for ourselves,” and “I think he is someone who can definitely add an important dimension to our forward line.”

After losing to SC Sagamihara on Wednesday, Yamada bid a public farewell to Kawasaki fans.

He joins his former club, which is currently sixth in the J-League, having scored twice in his 21 starts.

The 5-foot-8-inch forward told CelticTV that the Scottish champions made their initial approach in late 2024 after scoring 19 goals in 38 league games in the previous campaign.

This summer’s Scottish champions will welcome Yamada along with fellow forwards Benjamin Nygren and Callum Osmand, defenders Hayato Inamura and Kieran Tierney, and goalkeeper Ross Doohan.

He claimed that Celtic is “one of the top names in world football.” I’ve already seen how well my countrymen Daizen, Mahada, Reo, Haiti, and Kyogo Furuhashi perform at Celtic, and I want to make the same impact.