Celtic complete Marco Tilio signing from Melbourne City on five-year deal

Melbourne City claim the 21-year-old joins Celtic in a record-breaking transfer for an Australian player and has put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Parkhead until June 2028.

Tilio will wear the No.23 shirt for the Hoops and becomes Brendan Rodgers's second signing of the summer transfer window after Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm.

Speaking to Celtic TV on his arrival at the club, Tilio said: "I'm ecstatic that I'm coming over to Europe, coming to such a big club and team, and I'm super excited.

"I hope to bring all my qualities, take on players in and around the box, help the team contribute to goals with assists and hopefully put a few in the back of the net as well.

"It's an amazing opportunity for myself and having seen Aussies go over there and do well at such a prestigious club, it's a massive opportunity for myself that I couldn't deny.

"And being around those guys, Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic, in the national team camp over recent years, obviously helped make my decision easier."

Commenting on his desire to play in Europe, Tilio said: "It's always been a plan ever since I moved over to Melbourne three years ago. It was my plan to go over and do well, and hopefully proceed to go on to different and bigger and better things, and now I think is the time for me to come over to Europe and really challenge myself.

"And I'm really excited with the opportunity I have to come to this club and hopefully I put my best foot forward and play some good football.

"I think it's a massive opportunity to be a part of a team that plays in the Champions League, and have a winning mentality in bringing trophies. I think that's important.

"And as a player that's what you want to be a part of and what you want to do is win trophies, win games. For me it's always been about that here in Australia and I want to come over there and do the same thing."

Tilio has already spoken to his new boss Rodgers, adding: "I did have a chat with him a few days ago and I was really excited to have the opportunity to speak to him, and the plan the club has for me and for the team is a great opportunity as I said I couldn't deny, and I'm really looking forward to getting over there to Scotland.

"I'm just finalising a few things and I'm trying to pack up everything here in Australia, and as soon as I can, I'll head over to Scotland, meet all the team, the whole club. I'm really excited about that and hopefully I can get over there as soon as possible and get right into the thick of things.

"I think it's amazing, obviously the pre-season is so long, it drags on, and in Europe it's a lot shorter than what it is here, so I'm looking forward to getting right into it and playing games, and I think that's exciting as well that you get over and start to gel with the team as much as possible before the competitions and season starts."

Born in Hurstville, Tilio began his career with Sydney FC before leaving in 2020 to join Melbourne City where he quickly established himself as a key player and a fan favourite.

The versatile attacker, who can play on either wing or as a central striker, scored 20 goals and provided 19 assists in 82 appearances for the City Blues in all competitions, and won three successive A-League titles.

Tilio was named in the 2022-23 PFA A-League Team of the Season after recording nine goals and six assists in 26 league games, and he will now test himself in Scotland with treble winners Celtic, who kick-start the defence of their Premiership title at home against Ross County on August 5.

The arrival of Tilio at Celtic comes at a time when star attacker Jota is the subject of a potential £25m move to Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad.