Reo Hatate appeared to bid an emotional farewell to the Kawasaki Frontale fans this weekend ahead of his expected move to Scottish Premiership giants Celtic, as reported by Yahoo Japan.
This is not the way Hatate would have wanted to bow out.
Losing on penalties to Oita Trinita in the Emperor’s Cup semi-finals, the midfielder’s hopes of signing off with another trophy went up in smoke on Sunday.
Hatate will become a free-agent when his contract expires in a matter of weeks.
The Athletic reported earlier in December that the 24-year-old believes he is ‘ready’ to make a name for himself in European football, with Hatate expected to join compatriot Kyogo Furuhashi at Celtic.
According to Sky Sports, Hatate held talks with the Hoops board last week and informed the club of his desire to make the switch. Personal terms, it is understood, should be a formality too.
Will Reo Hatate be Celtic’s first January signing?
And, as Kawasaki Frontale’s suffered semi-final heartbreak this weekend, Hatate was spotted applauding the Azzuro Nero supporters with a tear in his eye.
Was this goodbye? It certainly looked like it.
At least Hatate can look back on a brilliant 2021 season with plenty of pride.
Scoring six goals and setting up three more, the former Japan U23 international was a key cog in a Kawasaki side who stormed to the J-League title, finishing 13 points clear of Ange Postecoglou’s old employers Yokohama F Marinos.
Hatate, who is equally comfortable in central midfield and at left-back, was also named in the J-League Team of the Year.
Celtic are expected to snap up two more players from Japan’s top flight next month. Daizen Maeda, the division’s 23-goal top scorer, is expected to join in a £1.3 million loan-to-buy deal.
And, according to reports from the Far East, Celtic have also agreed an £850,000 deal that will see former Leeds United midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi return for a second stab at British football.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
