31st August 2025; Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Rangers versus Celtic; Jack Butland of Rangers dives at the feet of Shin Yamada of Celtic
While there was ironic celebrations for Michel Ange Balikwisha scoring for Gent at the weekend life in Belgium hasn’t been quite so sweet for another of Celtic’s loan ‘stars’.
At Leuven Shin Yamada failed to make the 20 man matchday squad for the 1-1 draw with USG.
It seems that following the international break Leuven didn’t have space on their bench for their on loan non-scoring striker.
Seven matches into the season Yamada has started two matches, being substituted in both before the 75th minute.
He has came off the bench four time, all after the 70th minute with no goals added to his CV.
With just six points from eight matches Leuven are fourth bottom of the Jupiler League, six goals in eight matches suggests that their problems are in attack.
@aboutceltic That fellow sums up our recruitment no harm to him
It’s pitiful and amateur at best— James Cairney (@yenriacsemaj) September 23, 2026
YAMADA- ANOTHER DISASTROUS CELTIC TRANSFER DEAL
Yamada was given a four year Celtic contract in the summer of 2025, a product of Paul Tisdale’s bespoke talent identification scheme.
Other than scoring 19 goals in the 2024 J-League season Yamada has been in single figures striker throughout his career.
When Kyogo Furuhashi was sold in January 2025 Yamada was rejected by Brendan Rodgers as a replacement. Six months later he was a Celtic player.
After playing under Rodgers, Martin O’Neill and Wilfried Nancy Yamada was sent out on loan to Preuben Munster in Bundesliga 2 where he scored three goals in 10 appearances.
It wouldn’t be a shock if Leuven have a break clause in the loan deal allowing them to send their loan striker back to Celtic in January.
There is one Celtic related success story in the Belgian League.
On Saturday Matthew Anderson returned for Kortrijk after missing five matches due to a knee injury.
After two loan seasons at Admira Wacker in the Austrian Second Division Anderson helped Kortrijk to promotion into the Belgian top flight last season.
With the constant issues that Celtic have at left-back the decision to release Anderson in the summer of 2025 seems questionable at best.
CLICK HERE for Yamada Transfermarkt profile.
