IT’S a word not heard nearly enough whenever football is spoken about so well done Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo for reminding us what the game should be all about.

While speaking of what he as a player will bring to Celtic, the Belgian promised ‘joy’ as he explained in detail, and in good English, what the supporters are going to see in their new left-back who, as things stand, is the replacement for Kieran Tierney.

The 24-year-old, a £3million signing from Rapid Vienna,ticks a lot of the boxes Celtic in 2019 have on their ‘what we want from a new player’ list.

His age, price, attitude and, with Tierney about to become Scotland’s most expensive player, being a left-back and style of play are all exactly what his new club looked for when shopping during the transfer window.

All the he needs to do now is show it on the park.

“You are going to see a lot of joy on the pitch for sure,” promised Bolingoli-Mbombo when asked what sort of footballer the Celtic supporters can expect to see.

“I enjoy playing football on the pitch. I’m a player that loves to show my skills and speed. Those are my two biggest qualities I would say.

“I am more of an offensive left-back, I have good endurance so you will see me get up and down the left.

“I’m happy now that everything is finally done and to be part of this family. I just can’t wait to start to see my new team-mate, my coach and everything.

“The attraction is that Celtic is a big club, very famous in Europe and always try to reach the top in the Champions League.

“For me, that was important. I just came here to play football and to enjoy it. It’s a good step for my career to come to this club and let’s hope we can do a lot of things together.”

Celtic’s new man comes from an impressive football family. Bolingoli-Mbombo is a first cousin of Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku and his younger brother Jordan who is at Lazio.

The three played together when growing up, all dreaming of becoming professional footballers, with Romelu linked with a £60m move to Inter Milan this summer.

“I didn’t say anything to people about my transfer so it came as a surprise,” admitted Bolingoli-Mbombo. “It also happened really fast, so I really didn’t know if it was going to happen or not.

“But I’m here and very happy to be here. For everyone else it is a a big surprise.

“I’ve heard already from Jordan and it was also a big surprise to him as well. They are all happy for me after my transfer and wish me luck.

“We were closer when we were younger but we are still family. Romelu is focussed on his football career and I am focussed on mine over her. We stay in contact of course. We always try to motivate and inspire each other for sure.

“I grew up in Antwerp and after there I started my professional career in Brugges. If you see where we come from to have three players in the family making good steps in their footballing careers is a big thing.

“It motivates you also to see your cousins doing well too. You want to be like them.

“We lived close to each other when we were young. Romelu left Belgium to go to England and we see a little bit less of each other now, but during holidays in Belgium we always try to catch up with each other again.”

This player had options. Napoli, ironically in for Tierney, had a look but Celtic was his first choice.

“You hear of other propositions, of course, but here is a good step for my career,” he said. “When I heard that Celtic was very interested, then you cannot say no with the history and everything they have in the club, and also the warm family that you feel over here.

“I didn’t hear about that (Napoli) but my manager doesn’t tell me everything, but I was only focused on Celtic in the past week. I couldn’t wait until everything was finalised, so I’m happy.”

Bolingoli-Mbombo scored four goals in 73 appearances during two seasons at Rapid. He agreed a move to Glasgow without speaking to manager Neil Lennon, after first being alerted to Celtic’s interest only last week.

“Celtic is a big club in Europe and if you hear that Celtic are interested in you, of course you cannot say no,” he said, which is .

“It’s a nice step for me to make the next step in my career and I also want to write the history of this club.

“I think the fans will love me with my skills and my power on the pitch, the will that I will give them, because I always try to go 100 per cent on the pitch and I think the fans will love it.”

When asked what he knew about Celtic, he professionally stuck to the script and said: “The fans, of course. I have heard a lot about them. The club have a big history also and they won the treble in the last few years. I hope we can continue like this and win a lot of titles in the future.

“To play for Celtic in this stadium will be amazing and to play in the Champions League is also a big dream for every player. That will be a double big feeling. I can’t wait to play in this stadium for the fans and to play in the Champions League.”

Bolingoli-Mbombo has already endeared himself to the Celtic support because on social media, where else, a picture appeared of him pushing Alfredo Morelos when Rangers and Vienna faced on another in the Europa League at Ibrox.

“That I remember, yes,” said the Celtic man with a smile. It was a good first day.