Oliver Abildgaard insists he’s pitched up at Parkhead on the excellent time as he seems to beef up the Celtic midfield for the Champions League.
The 6ft 4ins Danish powerhouse landed in Glasgow in a late deadline day mortgage deal from Ruban Kazan. The 26-year-old will hook up with former Kazan teammates Sead Haksabanovic and Carl Starfelt and have become Ange Postecoglou ’s ninth and last signing of the summer time. Abildgaard admitted he’s arrived at an thrilling time for the Scottish champions – with Rangers up within the Premiership on Saturday earlier than subsequent week’s Champions League showdown with Actual Madrid.
He mentioned: “Always it might be excellent to come back right here however, after all, with these massive video games developing, I’m actually wanting ahead to feeling the ambiance, not solely within the stadium but in addition within the metropolis. I’ve solely heard excellent issues concerning the followers and the tradition of the membership. It goes with out saying how massive the fanbase and I’m simply wanting ahead to being a part of it.
“This can be a day I’ve been very a lot wanting ahead to ever since I heard the potential of coming right here. I’ve been following the highlights lately, ever since I heard concerning the curiosity, and I’ve additionally been maintaining my eye on Carl Starfelt as nicely ever since he moved right here a 12 months in the past.
“He’s been amazed by the membership ever since he got here right here, and the life in Glasgow as nicely. He’s having fun with it very a lot and he’s solely informed me good issues about it.”
Abildgaard insisted he’s out so as to add some muscle to the Celtic engine room. He mentioned: “My principal strengths are as a holding midfielder, and I’ll do regardless of the supervisor and the teaching workers would require from me. Resulting from my physique, I’m very sturdy, I'll win my duels, and I’m capable of be the hyperlink between our defence and our attacking gamers.”
Abildgaard got here by way of the ranks at his hometown membership Aalborg in Denmark earlier than making the transfer to Russia in 2020. The midfielder was a mainstay with Kazan however his place on the membership turned sophisticated following the outbreak of the warfare in Ukraine.
In contrast to fellow Hoops new boy Haksabanovic, Abildgaard’s contract was not frozen by FIFA – which made an exit tougher. The Denmark worldwide had returned to his house nation over the summer time however was ordered to return to Russia regardless of searching for an exit.
He admitted he was grateful to the Kazan for his spell however relishing his new chapter in Glasgow. Abildgaard mentioned: “I will likely be endlessly grateful for my time in Kazan. I made lifetime pals and shared extra fond recollections than I might ever think about. Thanks to the followers, workers and everybody linked to the membership.
“You'll all have a particular place in my coronary heart. Lastly, an enormous because of (supervisor) Leonid Slutsky who made me the participant that I'm right now.”
Abildgaard’s arrival was the ultimate piece within the Postecoglou summer time jigsaw with 9 signings being secured at Celtic Park. The Parkhead boss splashed out greater than £20m after nailing down former mortgage stars Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers for £13m, snapping up Argentina prospect Alexandro Bernabei for £3.5m and Haksabanovic for simply over £2m.
Keeper Benji Siegrist, Australia cap Aaron Mooy and Lorient mortgage ace Moritz Jenz additionally arrived whereas Daizen Maeda's everlasting transfer was activated. Celtic launched Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton whereas winger Mikey Johnson was final evening on the verge of a mortgage transfer to Portugal with Vitoria de Guimaraes whereas Liam Shaw headed for a season lengthy deal at Morecambe in England.