Tottenham Hotspur-linked Reo Hatate signs new five-year Celtic contract

The 25-year-old Japan international has become a fans' favourite at Parkhead since joining from J-League outfit Kawasaki Frontale in January 2022, and he is regarded as an important player in Brendan Rodgers's first-team squad.

Hatate contributed with nine goals and 11 assists in 45 appearances for Celtic across all competitions in the club's historic treble-winning campaign in 2022-23, and he was nominated for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award.

The box-to-box midfielder was linked with a summer exit from Celtic amid reported interest from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur - now managed by former Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou - Brighton & Hove Albion and Lazio.

However, Hatate has ended speculation over his future by putting pen to paper on a new five-year deal with Celtic.

Speaking to Celtic's official website about his new deal, Hatate said: "I am delighted to agree this new contract with Celtic and commit my future to the club.

"I love playing for Celtic in front of the best fans around and I hope we can have more and more success together.

"We have a lot of challenges ahead of us this season and beyond, both in Scotland and in the Champions League, and we are all ready as a team to tackle these together. We will give everything we have to bring our fans more good times.

"I have had the best welcome ever since I joined the club and I want to thank all our fans for the great support they continue to give to us all."

Rodgers added: "I am delighted that Reo has agreed this new contract. It is great news for both Reo himself and for the team and the club.

"I have had some great discussions with him in recent weeks, I know he loves the club and our supporters and how ambitious he is to bring more success to the club.

"Reo has already shown us what a talent he is, making a great contribution to the team since he has joined Celtic.

"He is a huge talent, an exciting young player with great attributes and someone who can change a game.

"I know he is the type of man and player, though, who doesn't want to rest. He is hungry to improve every day and achieve more and more to be the very best he can be - and Celtic is a great place for him to do this.

"We go forward now together with real confidence and I really look forward to continuing our work with him and the rest of the squad as we face all our challenges ahead."

Hatate is the latest Celtic star after the likes of Callum McGregor, Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston to have extended his contract since the beginning of this summer.

The midfielder, who scored his first goal of the new season in Celtic's 3-0 Premiership win at Livingston last weekend, is in contention to start for the Hoops against Motherwell on Saturday lunchtime.