Dedryck Boyata has left Celtic after winning his third Scottish Premiership title, joining Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin on a free transfer.
Kerim Rekik is thrilled to be reunited with Dedryck Boyata at Hertha Berlin, telling the Scottish Sun that the former Celtic stopper is a ‘world-class’ central defender.
Rekik and Boyata played together for Manchester City at the start of their careers and they have now been reunited at the Olimpiastadion with Hertha snapping up the Belgian international on a free after his Celtic contract expired.
But, while Boyata won eight trophies during a stellar spell in green and white, Hoops fans will probably dispute suggestions that a player described as ‘Bomb Scare’ by many is one of the very best defenders in world football right now.
“Dedryck is a magnificent signing for us. He is now a world-class defender,” the Dutchman said. “We were together at Manchester City. He’s older than me so I always looked up to him. But he really helped me.
“It would be great if we could form a partnership together. He’s quick and reads the game very well.”
Hertha finished eleventh in the Bundesliga table after a disappointing late-season collapse which put pay to any hopes they had of playing Europa League football in 2019/20.
A team who had established a reputation for well-organised, pragmatic football ended up conceding 57 goals in just 34 games so they will be hoping that Boyata will add some much needed steel to an oddly unconvincing back line.
And it remains to be seen how much Celtic miss one of their most decorated players of recent seasons.
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