Celtic have made striker Camilo Duran their first new summer signing in a deal worth around £6m.
The 24-year-old emerged as a priority target for the Hoops following a standout season with Qarabag, where he impressed both domestically and in the Champions League.
Duran, who joined the Azerbaijan club from Portuguese side Portimonense, scored 15 goals last season, with five of them in Europe’s elite club competition.
He is Martin O’Neill’s first new addition – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has signed a one-year deal after spending the second half of last season at Parkhead.
On completing his move, the Colombian said: “I’m very happy, it’s a dream come true to sign for a big club like Celtic, the biggest in Scotland, and I’m just excited to get going and score lots of goals.
“When I first heard of the interest there was absolutely no doubt in my mind and I’m just excited to get playing with the boys.
“It was a dream come true playing in the Champions League,” he added. “That’s what you dream of as a kid, so to score goals was amazing and that’s what I want to continue doing here, scoring goals in the Champions League.
Celtic’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has agreed a new one-year contract after joining on a short-term deal in January
“I give it my all in every game, with a lot of effort and dedication, and hopefully the goals will come.
“It’s an honour to be the first Colombian to play for Celtic. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid (to play for my country) and I hope that being here at Celtic and working well, then one day that will become true.
“I’ve told the manager how happy I am to be here and that I will hopefully repay him with my performances. It’s a real honour to wear this jersey and I hope that this year we’ll be champions.”
Sutton: Celtic need to spend £50m
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Chris Sutton admits that ‘a lot of change’ is needed at Celtic and gives an estimate on how much that might cost the club in the summer transfer window.
Chris Sutton believes Celtic may need to spend more than £50m overhauling their squad this summer if they are to retain their Premiership title and compete in the Champions League.
“Martin worked wonders last season. I didn’t see Celtic winning the title from the position which he was put in on a couple of occasions,” he told Sky Sports News.
“I mean, the run towards the end of the season was extraordinary but I still think you can’t get away from the fact there needs to be a lot of change at Celtic in terms of recruitment.
Could Daizen Maeda leave Celtic this summer?
“They’ve got the Champions League qualifier which is really important and, however exciting it was for Celtic fans to end up getting over the line last season, you can’t get away from the fact that Celtic struggled at times throughout the season. So, Martin will be looking to, I’m sure, bring players in.
“It’ll be interesting to see who goes out from Celtic. It looks like Reo Hatate will go, possibly Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels but they’re big players for the team. So, who are Celtic going to replace those type of players with? I think that Celtic are possibly going to have to spend up to or more than £50m really because the squad does need a rebuild.”
Celtic begin title defence against Dundee
Celtic begin their Scottish Premiership title defence at home to Dundee on August 3, live on Sky Sports.
The Monday night clash, which will kick-off at 7.30pm, rounds off a groundbreaking opening weekend that will see all six top-flight games shown live on Sky Sports for the first time.
Click here for all of Celtic’s Premiership fixtures, including dates of the first Old Firm clash this season.
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