CELTIC are delighted to welcome Jonathan Afolabi to the club, with the 19-year-old having signed a three-year deal with the Scottish champions. Jonathan moves from Southampton, and reunites with Ireland Under-19 team-mates Luca Connell and Barry Coffey, and he delighted to have joined the Celtic Family.

Speaking to Celtic TV, Afolabi praised the club’s renowned Academy set-up and, having already met his new colleagues, can’t wait to prove himself on the training pitch.

He said: “It’s been great so far. This is a big move for me and everything has been going well so far. The boys have been very welcoming, the fans have been great as well, and I’m delighted to be part of this family now. I can’t wait to drive forward from here.

“I know Luca Connell from when we travelled to Russia to play in the European Qualifiers for the Ireland Under-19s, and I likewise know Barry Coffey from the international set-up too.”

Afolabi said his decision to join the Scottish champions was an easy one to make, and identified the club’s winning mentality as integral to his process.

He added: “Celtic is just a stand-out team for me, and they have a great reputation of bringing youngsters from the Academy through the ranks. This is a great club, with a great history, and a great place for me to be a part of. I look forward to helping out in the seasons ahead.

“The club has great facilities, and a great winning mentality, which is what I want to be a part of. My goal here is to be part of a winning squad, adopt that winning mentality, and learn from the boys. If I can learn from the senior players, I’ll hopefully have the chance to play in front of these great fans.

“With such a talented pool of players, it’s going to take time and hard work to break in, to prove myself to the manager and the dressing room – but that’s something I would have to do anyway. Hopefully I can get a bit of time on the pitch in the future to showcase what I’ve got.”

Jonathan Afolabi: I’m thrilled to join the Celtic family