Transfer Centre

Celtic sign winger Sead Haksabanovic on five-year deal

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 25 August 2022

Celtic complete the signing of winger Sead Haksabanovic from Rubin Kazan on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance.

Celtic have completed the signing of winger Sead Haksabanovic from Rubin Kazan for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance.

The 23-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Parkhead and becomes Ange Postecoglou's seventh signing of the summer window after the arrivals of Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alexandro Bernabei, Benjamin Siegrist, Aaron Mooy and Moritz Jenz.

Haksabanovic, who will wear the No.9 shirt, spent only 11 months with Russian club Rubin Kazan before joining Swedish outfit Djurgardens on loan for the second half of last season.

Speaking to Celtic TV on his arrival at the club, Haksabanovic said: "It feels amazing. What I know about Celtic is only good things and I'm very happy to be here.

"It's an amazing club with good players, fans and history. I've been watching some games and I think the team play in the same style as me.

🆕✍️ #SeadSigns!

We are delighted to announce the signing of Montenegrin winger Sead Hakšabanović on a five-year deal, subject to international clearance 🇲🇪

Welcome to #CelticFC, Sead! 🍀
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 25, 2022

"I've been speaking to the manager as well and we had a good chat, speaking about how he sees me as a player and how he wants me to fit into his system and everything sounded good so that was it for me.

"I'm a playmaker with some flair, I'm good in one-on-ones, I have a powerful shot, I'm quick and I'll give everything for this club.

"Of course, I'm very excited to play in the Champions League, it's the best competition you can play in and that's a dream for me as a kid, so to see myself playing in that is very cool."

The 18-cap Montenegro international added: "I know that Henrik Larsson is a big legend here and I know his son really well. Hopefully I can do something similar to him which is very hard to achieve but I'm going to try my best.

"I know Joe Hart and Albian Ajeti from West Ham and I spent some time with Carl [Carl Starfelt] in Russia (with Rubin Kazan).

🗣️ "As soon as I heard that Celtic want me I said to my agent 'You have to make that happen!'"

Watch Sead Hakšabanović's exclusive first interview as a #CelticFC player! #SeadSigns!🇲🇪 pic.twitter.com/Hy12C8Hexr
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 25, 2022

"He saw somewhere that I was linked to Celtic and he wrote to me but I didn't want to say too much, I just asked him about the club and he only said good things, so I can't wait to get started now."

Born in Sweden, Haksabanovic began his career with Halmstads BK before joining West Ham United in 2017, although he was unable to make a single senior appearance during his three-year spell with the Premier League club.

Haksabanovic then represented Malaga and IFK Norrkoping before joining Rubin Kazan in the summer of 2021, but due to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the winger decided to leave the club and join Djurgardens on a temporary deal, contributing to four goals in 11 appearances.

The 23-year-old now get the chance to wear the famous green and white hoops at Celtic and he could make his debut for the club when they make the trip to Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.