REO HATATE quit Celtic for an undisclosed fee – reported to be in the region of £6.5million – to join Burnley in an eleventh hour move last night.
The Japanese international midfielder signed a three-year deal to end his four-and-a-half-year career at the champions in which he won nine major honours, including five successive titles.
Hatate, 28, joined the second-tier side and insisted: “This is a great move for me.
“It’s my first time playing in England and it’s a fantastic club to be joining.
“I’m hoping to bring my experience and knowledge to the dressing room and help the team on the pitch as much as possible to achieve our aim.”
The Hoops took to social media to say: “Thank you, Reo.
“Everyone at Celtic wishes you all the very best as you begin the next chapter of your career at Burnley.”
Hatate fell out of favour at Parkhead in the run-in to last season’s remarkable double-winning success and failed to feature in any of the domestic games this time around.
His final appearance for the club came in the Champions League play-off calamity against LASK in Austria last midweek.
Hatate now joins compatriot Daizen Maeda in England after his international team-mate signed for Ipswich Town in a £10million switch last month.
Arne Engels, too, opted for a career across the border when he sealed his £22million move to West Ham.
Hatate is standing by to make his debut tonight for his new club in a Championship encounter against Middlesbrough.
At the same time, Celtic go in search of three more Premiership points with Aberdeen the visitors to the east end of Glasgow.
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