---
title: "Celtic: Reo Hatate deal moves closer"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-reo-hatate-deal-moves-closer/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-11-27T19:05:11Z"
modified: "2021-11-27T19:05:11Z"
---

# Celtic: Reo Hatate deal moves closer

**Celtic are closing in on a deal for Kawakasi Frontale left-back Reo Hatate, according to Stephen McGowan for [The Scottish Daily Mail](https://www.67hailhail.com/transfers/report-celtic-on-verge-of-completing-first-january-signing-said-his-goodbyes-at-current-club/) (via [67 Hail Hail](https://www.67hailhail.com/transfers/report-celtic-on-verge-of-completing-first-january-signing-said-his-goodbyes-at-current-club/)).**

### The lowdown

The Japanese defender is valued at £720,000 by [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/profil/spieler/496656), but his contract is up at the end of January, so Celtic appear to be lining up a free transfer.

The 24-year-old has made [36 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/profil/spieler/496656) this season, [scoring six goals and providing three assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/profil/spieler/496656). He’s [notably versatile](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/leistungsdaten/spieler/496656/plus/0?saison=ges), having operated as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, left winger and right winger in addition to his preferred position.

Hatate was [part of the Japan squad](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/reo-hatate/leistungsdaten/spieler/496656/plus/0?saison=2021) which competed at the summer’s Tokyo Olympics, helping them to achieve a fourth-place finish.

### The latest

McGowan wrote in Saturday’s edition of [The Scottish Daily Mail (via 67 Hail Hail)](https://www.67hailhail.com/transfers/report-celtic-on-verge-of-completing-first-january-signing-said-his-goodbyes-at-current-club/) that a deal between Celtic and Hatate is at an advanced stage.

The 24-year-old looks poised to become the Hoops’ first January 2022 addition and apparently he has already told his team-mates that he’s bound for Celtic Park.

### The verdict

Clearly, Ange Postecoglou and Celtic are trying to build upon their successful swoop for another J-League star in the form of Kyogo Furuhashi – coming into this weekend, the 26-year-old is the [joint-top scorer](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/scottish-premiership/top-scorers) in the Premiership with seven goals.

Hatate may not be their only January addition from The Land of the Rising Sun either, with Yokohama F Marinos attacker Daizen Maeda also [heavily linked](https://theathletic.com/2913700/2021/10/31/daizen-maeda-fit-in-celtic-transfer/) with a switch to Parkhead.

If the Japan defender does arrive, you’d imagine that he’d compete with Greg Taylor and Boli Bolingoli for starting opportunities, boosting the depth of the squad in a position where Celtic [have had their issues](https://theathletic.com/2849616/2021/09/26/celtics-left-back-mess-is-symptomatic-of-the-clubs-deeper-problems/) this season.

**In other news, [Kieran Devlin has issued a worrying update on one Celtic player](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/kieran-devlin-jullien-injury-latest/)**