Soccer:Pawel Brozek has joined Celtic on loan from Trabzonspor. The Polish striker (28) will spend the remainder of the season at Parkhead, with the Hoops having the option to make the move permanent.
His signing will be seen as a transfer coup by manager Neil Lennon after the player was also targeted by Old Firm rivals Rangers.
Brozek, who is set to be officially unveiled at a media conference tomorrow, insists he is well aware of the demands for success at his new club. And he revealed how he sought the advice of past and present Hoops players ahead of the move.
Brozek told Celtic's official website: "I'm very happy because Celtic were very determined to sign me and it didn't take a long time. I spoke with Lukasz Zaluska and Maciej Zurawski and they said only positive things about the club so when I heard there was an offer from Celtic I wanted to go straight away.
"They said the fans are fantastic here, the top organisation of the club, and the great name the club has in the world. It's all happened very quickly. It was a really nice surprise because it's a big club and a big name in Europe. It's a very nice city and a great place to play football and there is a very good manager and coach.
"The team is very good and there are excellent training facilities. I knew before I signed about the club's history and the kind of pressure to win every game and the championship. So the history, the fans, the team and the determination of the club to bring me here were all reasons why I came.
"It's also important that we have won so many games in the last couple of months and there are also plenty of chances to score. But I don't like to speak about myself. I would rather show what I can do on the park and will try to do the best I can for the club."
Rangers manager Ally McCoist had spoken of his desire to recruit Brozek on loan as a strike partner for Nikica Jelavic, who himself has been the subject of intense speculation throughout the transfer window.
However, Lennon has won the race for the Pole's signature during what has been a busy month for the Celtic boss.
Jaroslaw Fojut has signed a pre-contract agreement with the club, while Mikael Lustig and Rabiu Ibrahim have also been recruited.