REO HATATE
The versatile 25-year-old joined Celtic on a 4 and a half year contract during the 2022 January Transfer Window.
After a man of the match debut performance in a 2–0 win against Hibernian at Celtic, Reo has since emerged as a mainstay in the heart of the Hoops during his time at the club.
A break-out season for the Japanese international, 2022/23 saw him included in the PFA Scotland Premiership Team of the Year, nominated for the PFA Scotland Scottish Premiership Player of the Year award, as well as winning the Premiership Player of the Month award for February.
He opened his goalscoring account in just his second game in green and white with a wondergoal. Against Hearts he collected the ball on the halfway line, drove forward and unleashed a bullet from around 30 yards.
He followed it up with two more sensational strikes and an assist in an unforgettable 3–0 Glasgow Derby victory over Rangers at Celtic Park.
Reo would go on to make at total of 21 appearance during the 2021/22 season scoring 4 goals in total, helping Celtic win the Scottish Premiership league title.
Reo joined the Bhoys from Kawasaki Frontale, having helped them win the J-League for the second successive year.
He was named in the J-League Best XI of the 2021 season alongside his Celtic team-mate, Daizen Maeda.
COUNTRY BHOY
Reo Hatate was selected to represent Japan at the recent 2020 Olympic Games, held in the summer of 2021 in Japan. He helped his country reach the last four of the tournament, though they lost out in the bronze medal match to Mexico. More recently he started for his country in the 2023 Kirin Cup against El Salvador.
