Virgil van Dijk will arrive in Glasgow tomorrow to complete his transfer to Celtic.Â
Negotiations with Groningen were completed tonight with a fee in the region of £2.5m agreed for the 21-year-old defender.
Van Dijk and his representatives will arrive in Glasgow to go through a medical with personal terms on a 4 year deal already agreed.
The Dutch u-21 internationalist has been Neil Lennon’s first choice defensive target with the hoops boss delighted to have the deal tied up in time for the player to join Celtic for the start of pre-season training.
Van Dijk has been on holiday in Dubai but has been kept upto date with developments with everything now in place to complete the transfer.
With Amido Balde signed last week Celtic’s plans for the new season are advancing at speed with the draw for the Champions League second qualifying round taking place on Tuesday.
Celtic will have to battle their way through three qualifiers with the opening match taking place on July 19 or 20.
Finding the right defensive partnership has been a priority for Lennon since he took over from Tony Mowbray with more than a dozen combinations tried out.
At £2.5m van Dijk  is Celtic’s most expensive signing since the arrival of Glenn Loovens from Cardiff although it’s anticipated that the Groningen man will be much more successful.
Van Dijk is likely to be paired with Kelvin Wilson who overcame a sluggish first season to become one of Lennon’s most consistent performers last season.
With Efe Ambrose in action at the Confederations Cup and Thomas Rogne about to depart van Dijk’s arrival is perfectly timed.
Despite speculation about departures the only bid that Celtic have received so far was a cheeky £4.5m bid from Hull City for Gary Hooper which was instantly rejected.
This is good news as the boy looks to be a good prospect. I see he has been capped at u19 and u21 level for Holland, which suggests we are getting a decent player. I also understand PSV and a couple of English clubs were on the prowl so well done to all at Celtic Park for getting this deal done.
I gather Besiktas are sniffing around Ambrose with a view to making a bid of £4m !! I will volunteer to drive him to Turkey if that comes to pass as he is far too casual and not what Celtic need in defence (e.g Juventus shambles at Parkhead, he was also culpible along with Izzaguirre for Spartak’s goal at Parkhead which could have cost us dearly)
Steady Andy…fair enough at time’s a bit too casual and I agree against Juve, he f**ked up, but to be fair Celtic have needed a player like him forever – players like Hooiveld, Loovens, Masjstorovic and Rogne came and went…even the likes of McManus and Caldwell – long ball specialists that nearly had me in tears at time’s lol
I think Efe has loads of potential and at 24 can be taught to ‘do the right thing’. He was player of the tournament in the the African Nations and even Liverpool (apparently) had their eye on him – and I can see why, as Rogers is trying to embrace football from the back.
Anyway by bringing in a natural central defender in Van Dijk, if Wanyama goes then we have our replacement in Ambrose imo…remember his debut – pure class as the holding midfielder…probably more his position in hind sight.
In Lenny We Trust conrade…HH :))
Jhimmy, you can ignore the African Nations form. If you saw Nigeria v Tahiti, it was probably the worst thumping I’ve seen. Nigeria were/are really poor. Which says a lot about the overall standard in the African Nations at the moment. And… Guess who sold their goal… I mean, Tahiti!!
I’m also one who’ not prepared to write Efe off just yet. He looked good (bar a few hairy moments) until he got back from the AN. Very good defensively and on the ball at that point.
His transformation since then, however, has been extreme, and everyone who is being critical has every justification for their stance. He makes the simplest of mistakes at the worst times. Really bad decision-maker that, ultimately, ends up costing us more often than not.
Prepared to stick with him but return to initial form required – and then some.
Another piece of good business by Celtic,
Massive potential, within our price range, solves a potential problem, and business concluded early without a bidding war .
Well done
nice job to all in signing this player a true gem
Good to see him in before pre-season. Reports on him favourable
Congrat. ! Celtic have just accomplished a good transfer on “the virge”. You shall see that he will adjust very rapidly and perform very good as he is strong, supertalented, and full-professional despited his age 21. With the head and by foot he is ruler in the boxfield . whish Celtic all the best in the pre-Cl games ahead.
Thanks Chrisian!
Hail Hail!
Wasn’t Fortune £4m?
Good piece of business, glad to see Lawwell is spending early for the qualifiers despite what the Sevco media told us about Celtic selling everyone and buying no-one!
Not our most expensive signing since Loovens. We paid in excess of £3.5 million for Efrain Juarez who left under a cloud of mystery after having a bright start and suddenly becoming the invisible man following our failure to reach the Group Stage of the Champions League in 2011.
It was reported at the time that he angered Lenny by stating that he had only signed for Celtic in order to play in the Champions League? anyone know if this authenticity in this or what the actual story was?
He hasn’t signed yet – don’t count chickens….
Well done to the Hoops scouting system for hopefully uncovering another gem for us, I totally agree Andy. Ambrose and Izzy do make costly mistakes, so maybe a left back who can deal with diagonal crosses would be great, as most teams use this ploy against Izzy. H H Keep the Faith
I think izzy will come good again I think his injury took its toll ? I understand he makes mistakes but he will be stronger this season. But as for effe iam not so sure ? I think he makes too many schoolbhoy errors at times ?
lay off izzy, seriously lets concentrate on matters of the new season, izzy has been an outstanding bargain too dont forget ! who else would you prefer at left back?? danny fox??? braftheid??? hail hail
Yes an outstanding player and took the SPL by storm, when he first arrived. IN MY OPINION, since his injury he has not come close to that kind of form. His positional defensive play to say the least, has been suspect.
We do need cover at left back, and NL must think so. would you not agree Brian.
Anyway the day hopfully belongs to Our new Dutch Master, at the back
What’s this about Fox and Brafield ????? It’s new signings we are talking about Brian !!!!1
Id agree abt Izzy, was looking better the 2nd half of the season.
As for big Efe, I think he’s decent enough overall but if some offered £4m Id take it. He’s good but not worth that 🙂
I think they just meant most expensive defender that we’ve signed. I Thot that both fortune and Juarez were dearer. How much was bangurs again? I Thot that was 2.5 too. Still really excited about this guy and balde, he scored 25% of his teams goals last season. That’s not bad goin for a 21 year old
Celtic should be a big threat at corners , etc next year as dijk and balde are 6ft 4
Not sure what is a bigger threat – Dijk & Balde in corners or Balde Dijk in the ring?
Hail Hail from the Papua New Guinea CSC
http://png-csc.com
The Real Jungle Bhoys
Celtic certainly seem to be doing their transfer business early which is a welcome change.
With such an early start to the season with the champions league qualifiers this’ll give our new players time to settle in at the club.
HH
I jst wish the press would give us a bit more recognition for saving the game in this country? After all were the ones keeping the game alive up here and paying our way unlike others? But hey we dream in colour others colour their dreams ! Hail Hail !