Celtic have completed the signing of defender Nat Phillips on loan from Liverpool.
The 26-year-old joins the Glaswegian giants on a temporary basis until January 2024 and will wear the number six shirt.
Phillips becomes Brendan Rodgers's eighth signing of the summer transfer window after Odin Thiago Holm, Marco Tilio, Kwon Hyeok-kyu, Yang Hyun-jun, Maik Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Luis Palma, the latter of whom joined the Hoops on Wednesday.
Speaking to Celtic TV on his arrival at Parkhead, Phillips said: "I'm really excited. When I heard about the interest it was one that got me excited.
"There were a few other options that didn't quite make me feel the same as this one did, so I was really keen to get it over the line and I'm delighted to be here now."
6⃣💪 Nat Phillips will wear the number 6 jersey at Paradise! #WelcomeNat | #CelticFC 🍀 pic.twitter.com/SMApU9FEb0
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 31, 2023
Asked why he decided to join Celtic, the defender replied: "It's the history of the club. It's such a huge club, the club's aspirations, the level it competes at, the fact that they're in the Champions League this year and the mentality of the club – they want to be winners in everything they do."
Rodgers added: "We're delighted to bring Nat to Celtic and we're looking forward to working with him in the months ahead.
"It's been well-documented that it's an area of the team we needed to look at in the short term due to a number of injuries we have experienced, and so we're pleased that Nat will provide that defensive support in the squad.
"Nat arrives with the experience of having played for another huge club in Liverpool and those experiences will serve him well here at Celtic.
"I know that he's delighted with this move and is looking forward to working with the rest of the squad here."
💚A message to the Celtic faithful, from new Bhoy Nat Phillips! #WelcomeNat | #CelticFC 🍀 pic.twitter.com/aow1e2l9dg
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 31, 2023
Phillips began his career with boyhood club Bolton Wanderers before joining Liverpool's academy in 2016, and he has since made 29 senior appearances for the Reds in all competitions.
The 6ft 3in centre-back, who has also had spells out on loan at Stuttgart and Bournemouth, was regarded as a peripheral figure in Jurgen Klopp's first-team squad, and he only made five first-team appearances for Liverpool last season.
Phillips had attracted interest from the likes of Eredvisie champions Feyenoord and Championship side Leeds United earlier this summer, but Celtic have won the race for his signature.
The defender could be in contention to make his Celtic debut when they travel to Ibrox for a mouth-watering Old Firm derby against rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Oliver Thomas
