Celtic have announced their fourth signing of the summer transfer window.
Celtic announced the signing of defender Hatem Abd Elhamed on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old joins from Hapoel Be’er Sheva on a four-year deal which The Scottish Sun report cost the club £1.6m.
The paper also reckon he is earning around £7,000-a-week to play for the Hoops.
A one-cap Israel international, the player has been announced by the club as a right-back signing on Twitter, despite a mixed playing history featuring in a number of positions for past clubs.
Elhamed played most of his games last season for Be’er Sheva at centre-back but has clearly been earmarked as a Mikael Lustig’s replacement after the Swede left the club at the end of last season to sign for Belgian side Gent.
His lack of specialism could be a problem but the player seems confident that he’ll be a good fit at the club.
The defender told celticfc.net: “When you play football you want to climb to the top and be the best you can be, and I know that I have found the best place for me – a club that has a tradition of playing quick, attacking, exciting and successful football and I am delighted that I am going to be part of this.”
A right-back has been badly needed this summer with central defender Kristoffer Ajer having to fill in for the club’s opening competitive matches against FK Sarajevo.
The deadline for adding a player to the squad for this qualifying round against Nomme Kalju expired on Tuesday night, so it doesn’t appear Elhamed will be available for next week’s second leg, unless the club registered him before today’s announcement.
Some Celtic fans have serious concerns about the player and aren’t convinced he can be the club’s first-choice on the right side of the defensive line.
That may be a harsh assessment without seeing him in action with Lennon’s team, but it appears the player has a lot to prove.
These supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts after his announcement…
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