Moussa Dembele proclaimed it was ‘unreal’ to be the first of Brendan Rodgers’s new Bhoys after agreeing a four-year deal to join Celtic.
The sought-after French Under-20 forward completed a medical in Glasgow yesterday fresh off the back of an impressive season with Fulham in which he scored 17 goals in 46 games for the English Championship club.
Even at the age of 19, Dembele’s signature represents a major coup for the Ladbrokes Premiership champions. Described by many as one of the most fancied young players in the British game, Dembele has previously been linked with English giants Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
Read more: Report: Fulham starlet Moussa Dembele set for Celtic after undergoing medical
Instead, the former Paris St Germain trainee will travel to Slovenia this week to meet up with his Celtic team-mates at their Maribor base ahead of their Champions League qualifiers next month, and the teenager admits it is an honour he recognises to be the first newcomer of Rodgers’s era at Parkhead.
“It’s a massive thing to come to this club and for me to be the first signing of Brendan Rodgers is something that is unreal for me,” he said: “I can’t wait to put anything I have for the team and for the club.
“He told me Celtic is a good team for me, and that when I come here I’ll have game time, and obviously I have to show that I can stay in the team to play.
“I think it is a good way for me to progress here with the massive stadium, the fans and the city. Everyone lives for Celtic.
“For me, it’s just unbelievable to play for a massive club like this.”
Dembele will be paraded at Celtic Park this morning even though his contract with Fulham does not expire until tomorrow night. Only last month it was revealed Arsenal had joined the long list of clubs keen for his signature after news broke he was refusing to sign a new deal at Craven Cottage.
Celtic will be due to pay around £500,000 of a development fee for his service, but it will be seen as a bargain if the teenager who has represented his country at five different age levels reaches his potential.
Read more: Leigh Griffiths: Moussa Dembele is good, but he'll need to get me out of Celtic team first
“I’m happy,” he told Celtic TV. “I’m glad to be here at a massive club like Celtic and I can’t wait to start.
“I can’t wait to start for Celtic and start scoring goals, and play for the team and the fans.”
Meanwhile, the Parkhead club took a step closer step to finding out who they will play in their Champions League qualifiers last night after Flora of Estonia defeated Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar 2-1 in Talinn in the first qualifying round first leg.
The return will take place next Wednesday night at the Victoria Stadium.
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