Plymouth Argyle have announced the signing of goalkeeper Conor Hazard from Scottish giants Celtic.
The 25-year-old has put pen to paper on a three year deal until June 2026 and moves to Home Park for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £150,000.
Hazard becomes Steven Schumacher's fourth signing of the summer after defenders Julio Pleguezuelo, Lewis Gibson and Kaine Kesler-Hayden, the latter of whom has joined on loan from Aston Villa.
"I am very pleased to have signed Conor," Schumacher told Plymouth's official website. "He comes to us from a huge football club, so we know he will have been taught superbly. He has international experience and all the fundamentals required to be a top goalkeeper.
"Conor will complement and challenge our current team of excellent goalkeepers, and we look forward to seeing him in action."
Director of Football Neil Dewsnip added: "Conor had a brilliant year in Finland with HJK Helsinki where – like us – he became a champion last season.
"That is the kind of player we always strive to recruit; people with a champions mentality, which we will need in the season ahead."
We can confirm that Conor Hazard has joined Plymouth Argyle FC on a permanent transfer.
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 11, 2023
Everyone at #CelticFC thanks Conor for his contribution to the Club, and wishes him good luck in his future career. https://t.co/2OnEOFFqSW pic.twitter.com/KIg9v8oDKo
Hazard, who joined Celtic's academy as a 16-year-old in 2014, departs the Glaswegian giants after making just seven senior appearances in all competitions including his competitive debut in the Europa League against Lille in 2020.
The goalkeeper's most memorable moment for Celtic came in the 2020 Scottish Cup final when he saved two penalties to help the Hoops beat Hearts 4-3 in the shootout following an enthralling 3-3 draw after 120 minutes.
However, Hazard was never regarded as a first-choice shot-stopper at Parkhead and he was sent out on loan to Falkirk, Partick Thistle, Dundee (twice) and HJK Helsinki over the last five years to gain regular first-team football.
The four-cap Northern Ireland international most recently represented HJK Helsinki, keeping 14 clean sheets in 39 games across all tournaments for the Finnish top-flight champions last season.
Hazard will now test himself in English football for the first time in his career with Plymouth, who have returned to the Championship for the first time in 13 years after winning the League One title last season.
Hazard could make his Plymouth debut when they begin life back in the second tier with a home encounter against Huddersfield Town in their opening game of the 2023-24 campaign on August 5.
Oliver Thomas
