Celtic sign Swedish defender Gustaf Lagerbielke on five-year deal

Celtic have completed the signing of Swedish defender Gustaf Lagerbielke from Elfsborg.

The 23-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Parkhead until 2028 and moves to Glasgow for a fee believed to be in the region of £3m.

Lagerbielke will wear the No.4 shirt vacated by compatriot Carl Starfelt, who joined Celta Vigo on a permanent deal earlier this summer.

The 6ft 3in centre-back becomes Brendan Rodgers's sixth signing of the summer transfer window after Odin Thiago Holm, Marco Tilio, Kwon Hyeok-kyu, Yang Hyun-jun and Maik Nawrocki.

Speaking to Celtic TV about his arrival at the club, Lagerbielke said: "I'm really excited and proud to be here. When I heard about the interest I was really excited and I was pushing for it to happen.

"The first thing you think of when you hear the name 'Celtic' is obviously the fans, this stadium and the atmosphere the fans create here.

🆕 #VälkommenGustaf 🟢⚪️

Highly-rated Swedish defender, Gustaf Lagerbielke, joins #CelticFC on a five-year deal - subject to international clearance ✍

Welcome to the Champions, Gustaf! 🇸🇪🍀

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 16, 2023

"And also, all the good players who have played here and who are playing here now, so I'm really excited to play with them and hopefully win a lot of games and titles.

"It's also a good sign that as a Swedish person, you can like it here and adapt to Scotland and Glasgow, so it's good to know that when you take a step like this, former Swedes have been here and did it well so hopefully I can walk in their footsteps.

"Every player that signs for Celtic has the ambition to win all the domestic trophies and also do well in Europe as well. Carl has been a really good player here and hopefully I can also be a really good player here."

Lagerbielke has already linked up with his new Celtic teammates and he is looking forward to working under new boss Rodgers in his debut campaign at the club.

"I know that all of them are really good players so it's going to be fun to play with them and learn from them as well," the defender added.

💬 "I'm really excited and proud to be here!"

Gustaf Lagerbielke: I can't wait to play in front of the Celtic fans 📰🟢⚪#VälkommenGustaf🇸🇪🍀

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 16, 2023

"I had a brief chat with the manager before I came here, and then a brief chat today, and he just welcomed me and it was nice to have me here, and I think we'll take more tactical and football things in the future.

"[Rodgers] seems like a really good guy and his achievements speak for themselves as a coach."

"I'm a hard-working defender and I always want to win," the one-cap Sweden international continued. "I like to play out from the back, keep my composure and hopefully I can head in a couple of goals this season.

"I focus more on developing as a player and, coming here, I hope to develop even more. If I do well, then I'll get my chance in the national team as well, and I look forward to getting that opportunity."

Lagerbielke has spent his entire club career in Sweden, representing the likes of AIK Fotboll, Sollentuna FK, Vasteras SK and most recently Elfsborg, where he departs after two years with the Allsvenskan side.

The defender could be in contention to make his Celtic debut when they take on Kilmarnock in the Scottish League Cup second round on Sunday.