NEW Bhoy Osaze Urhoghide has revealed he knocked back offers from Premier League clubs to join Celtic.
The highly-rated centre-back celebrated his 21st birthday on Sunday only three days after agreeing a four-year deal at the Parkhead club.
Urhoghide arrived as a free agent after quitting Sheffield Wednesday at the end of his contract. He joined former Hillsborough team-mate Liam Shaw in Glasgow after the midfielder also moved from the troubled Yorkshire club who slumped into the English third tier following a disastrous campaign.
The defender, who was born in the Netherlands of Nigerian parents before moving to England at the age of five, made 16 appearances in the Championship last season.
GREEN FOR GO…Osaze Urhoghide in training at Lennoxtown.
His performances attracted interest from Leeds United and Crystal Palace plus a host of European clubs, but the player opted to join the Ange Postecoglou revolution at Celtic.
Urhoghide, who could make his debut in this afternoon’s closed-door friendly against his former club in Newport, said: “It was a hard decision to leave Sheffield Wednesday, it was disappointing last season to go down.
“I had to weigh up my options to see what would have been best for my career and I ended up choosing Celtic.
“I believe it’s going to be a good move with the culture of the club, the expectation, the manager coming in and with what he wants to do and helping develop the players, so it’s a good fit for me.”
THE WAY AHEAD…Ange Postecoglou makes a point during training.
Asked whether there were Premier League options for him, Urhoghide, speaking to Sky Sports News, answered: “Yeah, there were some teams there, the Premier League would have been nice, but it’s also about playing and developing
“It’s about the manager and the culture of the club and it’s that environment that will help you develop and improve as a player. Celtic had all those options for me.
“All the players are really good, supportive in training and with showing me around the place. It’s great to be here with the new manager, everyone from the team is back and it’s just good to get ready for the game today.”
