SHIN YAMADA CELTIC DECISION LIKELY THIS WEEK

Are Celtic about to add a second Japanese summer signing? We should know soon.

Celtic have already signed Hayato Inamura from the J-League this summer. However, as I have already said previously, of the two Japanese players Celtic have been linked with this summer, Shin Yamada is the far more exciting, and indeed first team ready, prospect. 

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Now, I don’t know what’s going to happen next. However, I’ve seen enough Japanese football down the years to know one thing for sure after this weekend’s round of matches:

Kawasaki Are Selling Shin Yamada, Celtic’s Role Remains Unclear

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Shin Yamada will leave Kawasaki Frontale this summer. His tearful demeanor after this weekend’s game reflects similar sentiments I’ve witnessed before from departing stars. Kyogo’s final game for Vissel Kobe was an equally emotional affair. 

The difference is, we knew where Kyogo was headed by the time he played his final game. Vissel Kobe’s twitter account announced his Celtic move a couple of days earlier.

With Shin Yamada, the situation isn't as clear. Whichever club has reached a deal to sign Yamada, either they or the player don't want it announced for the time being. 

Yamada also has the small matter of his first international call-up to take care of this week.

Japan will play three matches as part of a mini tournament over the next 8 days, with Yamada expected to play at least a part in all three. 

Japan face Hong Kong tomorrow, China four days later, and then South Korea on July 15th. 

This is a special East Asian Football Federation event. 

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As such the teams include only domestic league players.

So, don’t expect to see the likes of Daizen Maeda or Reo Hatate called up for the Samurai Blue, or Yang called up to the Korea squad. 

My educated guess would be Yamada has agreed to move somewhere already.

However, in order to give his international debut the full focus it deserves, we probably won’t know where he’s headed until after that game against Korea on the 15th. 

Celtic are the only team that have been reported in the domestic Japanese press as having a firm interest in Shin Yamada thus far. Local press has even gone as far as to suggest a fee of around £600,000.

However, that doesn't mean we’re the only team pursuing the player. This is a developing story, but it’s one that should conclude one way or the other in the next week or so. 

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Watch this space.