---
title: "Celtic: Yuki Kobayashi ‘won’t be able to play’ until January"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-yuki-kobayashi-vissel-kobe-latest-transfer-news-rumours-updates-2/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Chloe Chadwick"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2022-11-24T11:40:55Z"
modified: "2022-11-24T11:40:55Z"
---

# Celtic: Yuki Kobayashi ‘won’t be able to play’ until January

**[Celtic](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/) defender Yuki Kobayashi ‘won’t be able to play’ for the club until January, according to journalist [Sean Martin](https://twitter.com/seanmartinTCW).**

### The Lowdown: Kobayashi announced

The [Scottish Premiership](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/scottish-premiership-news/) champions announced the signing of the 22-year-old from Vissel Kobe on Wednesday after putting pen to paper on a [five-year](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63728641) deal at Parkhead.

Ange Postecoglou has previously worked in Japan so will have a good understanding of the centre-back, and he is now set to link up with his fellow countrymen Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda in Glasgow.

### The Latest: Martin’s update

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/seanmartintcw/status/1595388077127655425?s=46&t=kXeluexwjH89JKgUHIZ3DA), Martin revealed that Kobayashi will officially make the switch next month, though won’t be eligible to participate in any games until the New Year as a result of having to wait until the actual transfer window opens before stepping onto the field. He wrote:

“Kobayashi won’t be able to play until January but club say he will join up with the team in December.”

[Key latest Celtic updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/key-latest-celtic-updates-9/)

### The Verdict: Jenz replacement

The Hoops are set to make a [decision](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-moritz-jenz-lorient-latest-transfer-news-rumours-updates/) on the future of Moritz Jenz at the end of the season, so should they decide not to trigger his [option](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/12654686/celtic-aaron-mooy-and-moritz-jenz-join-scottish-premiership-champions) to buy, Kobayashi could be a great long-term replacement.

The 6 foot gem has plenty of experience under his belt having made 123 senior appearances throughout his career and offers versatility having also operated at left-back ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/yuki-kobayashi/leistungsdaten/spieler/405386)).

Celtic have already kept a respectable [six](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/scottish-premiership/weisseweste/wettbewerb/SC1) clean sheets this campaign, and that number is only likely to increase following Kobayashi’s highly anticipated arrival.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”415619″\]