YONGIN, SOUTH KOREA - JULY 08: Shin Yamada of Japan looks on during the EAFF E-1 Men's Football Championship match between Japan and Hong Kong at Yongin Mireu Stadium on July 08, 2025 in Yongin, South Korea. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
Shin Yamada has been the focus of attention for Celtic fans today.
On Wednesday evening a number of credible reports took things beyond speculation, a fee of £1.5m was universal with the player expected to be on his way to Celtic when international duties conclude on July 15.
There appears to be two distinct versions of Yamada, the free scoring 2024 striker that ticks all boxes and the 2025 that hasn’t kicked on from last season at Kawasaki Frontale.
So far this season Yamada has scored two goals from 1085 minutes, last season he scored 19 goals with four assists from 2007 minutes.
Shin Yamada, what to expect?didn’t do so great least season but season before in 2024 he got 19 goals 3 assists? https://t.co/0YfRO5bhCm pic.twitter.com/yOIu5mxND2
— •A1• (@A1_CELTIC) July 10, 2025
Those that have seen him describe Yamada as a penalty box striker, he seems more in the mould of Gary Hooper than any of Celtic’s other J-League imports.
Celtic finished last season with Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah alternating as the striker, if Yamada joins the club alongwith Johnny Kenny and Callum Osmand there may be a change in formation next season, Ben Nygen seems capable of playing off a striker.
Whether Celtic like it or not Yamada will be viewed as Kyogo’s successor and compared to the Birmingham striker who arrived with a bang and buckets of goals four years ago.
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My perception of Shin Yamada, who is close to signing for Celtic.? https://t.co/fyZTQIMatB pic.twitter.com/hRk7TlOLHl
— ???Naru??Japanese Bhoy Studios? (@CelticStudio_JP) July 10, 2025
A Japanese Gerd Muller!
One big experienced defender is up for grabs. A one J Henderson.?
Kyogo’s sale generated £10m and one of this group of players is his replacement — Johnny Kenny, Callum Osmond or Shin Yamada. I expected the club to add another £5m and buy in a top level striker at £15m. There is no ambition shown by this board to progress the club.
The Lawwells have damaged and held back Celtic Football Club without being accountable for their actions. Peter Lawwell will be responsible if Celtic fail to qualify for the Champions League group phase because there is funds available to purchase better players.
The failure to win the Scottish Cup last season was a warning sign that the squad hadn’t the quality to positively change the game. I can’t see Brendan Rodgers remaining after this season when he isn’t being supported properly.
Con, even if we do not qualify this year for Europe, is liewell going to worry? of course he’s not because he knows and he’s known for the last 15 years that the Celtic gullibillys will continue to buy STs no matter what manager we get and what little funds will be available to him because, come on wake up this board is only interested in making money, not for the football team but for themselves, they’re all greedy money making millionaires trying to make even more money and they don’t give a flying f**k about Celtic supporters / fans who spend all their money supporting this club ,and they will continue to milk the fans money and pocket it for themselves, so unless Celtic fans wise up ,or this board f**ks off ,which I doubt they will because they are pocketing millions we are well and truly fucked.
Yamada looks great but there’s plenty of players with an impressive YouTube reel. A Japan international for £1.5m, well worth the punt. From the clips he scores all sorts of goals, I like it.