CELTIC have arranged to face Gamba Osaka during their Japan July Tour 2023.
Ange Postecoglou’s champions, with at least five former J-League stars in their travelling squad, are due to play the game in the Panasonic Stadium Suita on Saturday, July 22.
The Hoops are also scheduled to face their manager’s former club Yokohama F Marinos three days earlier at the Nissan Stadium.
Following those two friendlies, Postecoglou will take his players to South Korea for a meeting with Wolves at the Suwon World Cup Stadium on Wednesday, July 26.
It will be a homecoming for international striker Oh Hyeon-gyu who joined the Parkhead club in a £2.5million switch from Suwon Bluewing in January.
Postecoglou, speaking to the Celtic website, said: “I’m delighted we have completed our pre-season tour schedule with a second exciting fixture in Japan.
“Gamba Osaka are a proud club with great traditions and I’m especially pleased that both they and Yokohama F Marino’s will provide excellent Japanese opposition for Celtic this summer.
“We look forward to the tour, meeting fans in Japan and the tests that lie ahead.”
Celtic will have Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda, Tomoki Iwata and Yuki Kobayashi in their travelling player pool, but there may be a no-show from former Gamba midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi.
The former Japanese international, who joined in January 2022, returned to his homeland at the turn of this year on a loan deal to Avispa Fukuoka where he has been plagued by injury.
A comeback at Postecoglou’s team is unlikely and Ideguchi, who also had a spell at Leeds United earlier in his career, may opt for continuing his career in his homeland.
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