<
>

Dedryck Boyata completes transfer from Manchester City to Celtic

Celtic have completed the signing of Dedryck Boyata from Manchester City.

Boyata, who arrived in Glasgow on Monday ahead of the move, will reportedly cost the Scottish champions £1.5 million, while he has penned a four-year deal.

"It feels really good. Celtic are a very big club and it feels good to be a part of it," the defender said on Celtic's official website.

"The manager came to see me in Manchester and I spoke to him about having me here and all the ideas he had for me playing for the team.

"So I was very pleased with his plans and from that point I thought that moving to Celtic would be a good idea and we tried to do everything right for me to move here."

Boyata, who has had loan spells at Bolton and Twente in recent seasons, had been on City's books for six years, but only made six appearances this term and began one Premier League game.

Boyata could now be replaced as City's fourth-choice centre-back by his fellow Belgian Jason Denayer, who spent last season on loan at Celtic.

Denayer, who is already a full international, won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in Scotland as he helped Celtic retain the title.