Efrain Juarez leaves Celtic

Efrain Juarez has left Celtic to join Club America in his native Mexico.

The midfielder chose to quit the Glasgow Giants after failing to hold down a place in Neil Lennon's team.

Juarez, who spend the first half of last season on loan at Real Zaragoza, joined Celtic after impressing for Mexico during the 2010 World Cup.

"In my experience there were very good moments and a few that were not so good. In the end I don't consider it a disappointment," the player said in a statement.

"The coach, Neil Lennon, is always seeking changes and I was among them.

"He changes the players and for the beginning of the second part of the season the team started to work, so that wasn't good for me."

Celtic issued the following statement via its website: "Everyone at Celtic would like to wish Efrain every success in his future career."