Overview
- Celtic have confirmed Hatate has departed the club and signed for English Championship side Burnley for an undisclosed fee.
- Hatate made 191 appearances for Celtic, scored 33 goals and helped the club win nine trophies during his four-and-a-half-year spell after joining from Japan for a reported £2 million.
- His time at Celtic featured early highs under Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers, including standout derby and cup goals, followed by reduced playing time and form under Martin O’Neill.
- Last season Hatate was in and out of the starting lineup, attracted criticism for two quick yellow cards in a Europa League match at Bologna, and made clear he wanted a fresh start away from Glasgow.
- The Burnley move is framed as a pragmatic step to rebuild form and pursue promotion to the Premier League rather than the immediate top-five league transfer Hatate reportedly preferred.