Andreas Hinkel has expressed his joy at becoming Celtic’s first signing of 2008. "I am delighted to sign for Celtic Football Club and am really looking forward to joining up with my new team-mates," Hinkel told the club's website, www.celticfc.net last night.
"Celtic is a great club with a great history, having achieved such success at home and in Europe. It is a great honour to join the club and I hope to play an important part in the club's future over the next few years.
"Having already played against Celtic in European competition, I am well aware of the magnificent stadium and wonderful passionate support which the club enjoys. I will be doing my very best to work as hard as I can to try and bring as much success as possible to the Celtic fans."
The signing of Hinkel represents a major coup for Celtic manager Gordon Strachan. Dortmund were particularly keen to land Hinkel but Strachan convinced him to make the move to Scotland. Celtic are believed to have paid just under £2 million for the former Stuttgart player.
Strachan was thrilled to see the right-back choose Glasgow above the offers from Germany. "We are delighted to complete this signing," Strachan said. "Andreas is someone who we have been looking at for some time and we are pleased to have finally got him to Celtic.
"We are sure he has all the qualities to be a great success at the club."
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