Celtic have confirmed the departure of Yose Ideguchi on a permanent transfer to J-League champions Vissel Kobe. The midfielder made just six appearances for the Scottish champions since his arrival from Gamba Osaka in January 2022. He spent last season on loan at Japanese side Avispa Fukuoka and was nominated for the J-League Player of the Year. This led Vissel Kobe, who won the J-League title last year, to make their move with a fee reported to be slightly more than the £850,000 Celtic paid for him 18 months ago. Ideguchi posted a farewell message to Celtic on Instagram which read: “I’ll never forget my memories of Glasgow. Thanks you for all of you. I’m cheering for you from Japan.”
Celtic’s third-choice goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist looks set to remain at Parkhead for the time being following the collapse of a proposed loan move to Sturm Graz. The 31-year-old Swiss stopper was reportedly close to joining the Austrian club and secure much-needed game-time after making just two League Cup appearances for Celtic since completing a move from Dundee United in 2022. But, according to the Daily Record, those plans have been scuppered, with Sturm Graz decided to turn their attentions to Liverpool’s Vitezlav Jaros instead.Hearts ‘really bad loan’ move
Rangers could yet lose Cyriel Dessers to the Africa Cup of Nations amid reports that he has been placed on standby for a possible late call-up to the Nigeria squad. The Ibrox side appeared to have avoided the prospect of losing Dessers after he was left out of Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro’s final selection despite being named in the original preliminary squad. However, an injury to Bayer Leverkusen star Victor Boniface has ruled him out of the tournament and while Nice striker Terem Moffi is the preferred first-choice replacement, since the French side are under no obligation to release their player due to the request coming after the official deadline, Nigeria could yet turn to Dessers with reports in Africa stating the Rangers striker is next in line to go to the tournament if Nice don’t allow Moffi to go.
