Vakoun Issouf Bayo has arrived in Scotland ahead of finalising the paperwork on his switch to join Celtic, it has been confirmed.
The Hoops announced via their official Twitter account on Tuesday that the 22-year-old striker has touched down in Scotland “for the first time”, but his move remains “subject to international clearance”.
? Bayo's here!
@vakoun45 is in Scotland for the first time as a #CelticFC player (subject to international clearance) #WelcomeBayo ??? pic.twitter.com/6bOjRii18U
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 22, 2019
The Bhoys agreed to sign the Ivory Coast international from Dunajska Streda on January 8, but his move is yet to be fully ratified and it seems unlikely that he will be available to play against St Mirren on Wednesday night.
OPINION
Brendan Rodgers may be acting calm about it, but he is surely frustrated by the fact that he is still unable to play Bayo and that it has taken him this long to arrive in the UK. His move to Celtic Park was a done deal a long time ago now, but red tape appears to be getting in the way of him finalising his move due to a work permit. It remains to be seen whether Bayo will be any good for Celtic anyway. The 22-year-old has been firing on all cylinders for Dunajska Streda this season – but that is in Slovakia’s top-flight. The standard of the Scottish Premiership gets a lot of stick from those down south, but it is way better than what Bayo is used to in Slovakia. Hopefully Rodgers has unearthed a gem here, but if the striker fails to impress, then he will become the latest in a growing line of players signed by the Northern Irishman who has failed to fully convince in Glasgow’s East End.