Five facts about Celtic target Kouassi Eboue

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The African midfielder has shot to fame in Russia and will look to take his career to the next level under Brendan Rodgers.

While the prospective signing of Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe dragged on for what felt like the entirety of autumn before ending in disappointment, Celtic snapped up the signature of Kouassi Eboue in the blinking of an eye.

According to the Daily Record, the 19-year-old will become Brendan Rodgers’ first January signing in charge of the Scottish league leaders with a £2.5 million transfer fee enough to convince Russia’s Europa League regulars FC Krasnodar part company with their prized asset.

But just who is football’s second most famous Eboue?

1) Eboue has spent only one season in a major European league, making his senior Krasnodar debut in May. However, the 19-year-old quickly demonstrated his potential, starting 13 games in all competitions in 2016/17.

2) The dynamic midfielder opened his senior account against Maltese minnows Birkirkara in the Europa League qualifiers earlier in the season in the most unorthodox fashion. Charging down a clearance like a maddened bull, he sent the ball ricocheting into the opposition net. Well, that’s one way to get off the mark.

3) Just six months into his professional career, Eboue had a senior international call-up to his name. The teenager failed to get off the bench as the Ivory Coast drew with Morocco and France in November but he’s clearly tipped as one for the future in by a nation searching for Yaya Toure’s long term successor.

4) Ligue 1 underdogs Nice may have one of the most talented young midfields in the European game, but Eboue was quick to stamp his authority on the French top flight leaders. In two Europa League clashes against Lucien Favre’s side, the Ivorian produced an assist in each.

5) Committed or just immature? After receiving a straight red for a swinging elbow against FC Orenburg, Eboue threw himself onto the turf, arms flailing like a spoilt, six year old brat. Eventually, former Wigan defender Andreas Granqvist was forced to manhandle his young team-mate away from the unmoved ref.