Celtic's first signing of the January transfer window is all but done.
Kouassi Eboue has joined up with Brendan Rodgers' side for their winter training camp in Dubai. His £2.8 million acquisition by the club is expected to be officially announced once all paperwork has been cleared.
The 19-year-old Ivorian joins Celtic from Russian side Krasnodar where he has been since 2014. Though yet to make his senior international debut for the Ivory Coast. Eboue was recently called up to a squad.
The signing of Eboue, who has played 18 times for Krasnodar this season, excites Brendan Rodgers.
Quotes by Sky Sports, Rodgers said that Eboue elicits the same feeling he had upon watchign a young Philippe Coutinho or Raheem Sterling on the pitch.
He is one of those young players I look at with the same feeling I had as when I saw a young Coutinho or a young Sterling. Within 10 seconds you see his talent.
He is one, obviously, the scouting team have been aware of. Most coaches see something in a player that suits their way of working.
But there are certain attributes in a young player you can see and you get a good feeling. This boy has that.
The player's agent told the Scottish Sun earlier this week that he and his client view Celtic as a bridge between Krasnodar and a big move to the Premier League or La Liga.
But he is young and has a lot of ambition. He wants to play in the English Premier League or in Spanish football.
For us, Celtic is a bridge between his development in Krasnodar and his potential future in the Premier League or La Liga.
When Celtic made their offer, Krasnodar were excellent. They didn’t prevent the move because they understood that the player needs to progress.
Celtic will give him a new experience and allow him to take a step towards his eventual goals.
Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
