Confirmed: Celtic complete long-term deal for playmaker
By Danny Wright
Celtic have confirmed that they have signed Ipswich playmaker Kundai Benyu on a long-term deal.
The Hoops announced the news in a post on their official Twitter account on Thursday which said that Benyu has “agreed a four-year contract” in his move to Parkhead.
The Scottish treble winners have also confirmed that the 19-year-old will officially join up with them on Saturday.
A statement on the Hoops’ official website said that they had to beat off competition from “some of England’s top clubs” in order to snap him up as, according to HITC, his contract nears an end.
It is reported that the Bhoys will have to pay a compensation fee to Ipswich, but it is understood to be a small amount.
Benyu is now Celtic’s second signing of the summer after Jonny Hayes was snapped up from Scottish Premiership runners-up Aberdeen in mid-June, and he is now looking forward to working alongside manager Brendan Rodgers.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Celtic. It’s a massive honour to sign for the Scottish champions and one of the world’s truly great clubs,” said the central midfielder to the Bhoy’s official website.
“It’s also a great opportunity for me to continue to develop as a footballer under Brendan Rodgers.”
Benyu didn’t manage to make a single first-team appearance while developing through the ranks at Portman Road, but was sent out on loan to non-league side Aldershot last season, where he scored five goals in 23 appearances as they reached the National League play-offs.
Football Insider Verdict
Benyu could become a star in the future, but his lack of top-football experience at the age of 19 is slightly worrying. Either way, there’s only a small fee involved and financially the deal presents more reward than risk – which is very good business from Rodgers. Celtic don’t have to do a lot to strengthen their first-team this summer, as they highlighted with their dominance of Scottish football last season. What they do need to do, however, is ensure that they improve in European competition. It’s definitely a long-term thing to do, but Benyu doesn’t really add to that immediately. Rodgers now needs to crack on with finding players that can help his side reach the knock-out rounds of the Champions League.
In other Celtic news, Rodgers has made an emphatic decision this 24-year-old’s future.
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