Celtic seals £3.5m deal for Canada international Alistair Johnston

Celtic have completed a deal to sign CF Montreal right-back Alistair Johnston, who has just finished his World Cup campaign with Canada.

The Scottish champions will pay an initial fee in the region of £3.5m for the 24-year-old, as they continue their work ahead of the January transfer window.

After announcing the news, Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou said: “I’m delighted. He’s someone we identified pretty early on as somebody we think can add to our club

“He’s had an interesting career path where he’s had to work very hard to get to where he is, and we’re very happy to conclude the deal and knowing he was going to the World Cup, I think he performed well there as well.

We are delighted to announce the signing of Canadian International defender Alistair Johnston on a 5-year deal, subject to international clearance. Welcome to #CelticFC, Alistair! 🍀🇨🇦

“He’s really keen to come across and take the next step in his career, and I think he’ll be a great fit in our dressing-room, and he’ll definitely add something to our football as well.
Celtic welcome Johnston

“He’s predominantly played on the right side of defence, at centre-back or right-back. He’s very good technically, very good going forward and also a really strong competitor and he doesn’t mind the physical aspects of the game, and as I said, I think he’ll add something to our club.”

Johnston, who featured in all three of Canada’s matches in Qatar, was asked at a media conference about being linked to Celtic.

“Look, is is obviously something that I think every footballer is excited by,” he said. “I think it’s one of the most passionate fan bases in the world. It’s a club that even people who don’t follow football know who it is.

“So yeah, just getting linked with them – my phone’s been blowing up, literally broke my phone actually.”