Brendan Rodgers tips Shin Yamada to add power up front after signing for Celtic

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tipped Shin Yamada to bring a new dimension to his strike force after completing the signing of the Japanese forward on a four-year contract.

The 25-year-old arrives from Kawasaki Frontale, where he scored 32 goals in 121 appearances.

Yamada recently won his first international cap and joins compatriots Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and fellow summer signing Hyato Inamura at Celtic Park.

Rodgers told Celtic’s website: “I am really pleased that we have brought Shin to the club. He is a strong player who can score goals and create goals for others and I think he is someone who can definitely add an important dimension to our forward line.

“I know he is really keen to make his mark here in European football and deliver for Celtic, and I think he is someone who has the power, athleticism and intensity in his play to do really well for us. I look forward to working with him.”

Yamada added: “It is a huge honour for me to be here as a Celtic player and I can’t wait to begin my time at this amazing club.

“Celtic is one of the top names in world football. I have already watched my countrymen like Daizen, Reo and Kyogo do so well at Celtic and I will aim to have the same impact.

“I am my own player, though, and I am ready to face all my own challenges directly.

“I want to do so well at Celtic. I know that Celtic Park is one of the best places in the world to play football with the best supporters around and I will do everything I can to make my new fans proud of me.”

Yamada added: “First of all I am a striker, so I need to do my job and will try to score goals. My other strengths will be power and speed, so using these strengths I will try to score lots of goals.”