Keane agrees Celtic move

Spurs striker on his way to Parkhead

Last updated: 1st February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Keane agrees Celtic move

Keane: Loan star

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Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane has agreed to join SPL giants Celtic on loan.

The Republic of Ireland international emerged as a potential target for the Hoops on a frantic transfer deadline day.

With the experienced frontman currently out of favour at White Hart Lane, Tony Mowbray hoped to convince Spurs that the 29-year-old would be better served taking in a spell at Parkhead.

Harry Redknapp, reluctant to stands in Keane's way, has agreed to such a request and is happy to let the Irishman stay in Scotland until the end of the season.

Celtic have verbally agreed a deal with the player, who is currently on his way to Glasgow to put the finishing touches to the switch.

It is understood that an agreement will be official announced by Celtic at 11pm.

Great connection

Scottish clubs have until midnight to complete their transfer business during the winter window.

"We've been pretty persistent in the last few windows in terms of keeping in touch with what he was wanting to do," Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell told Sky Sports News.

"Thankfully, today, we were able to do a deal.

"We've known for a while that Robbie is a Celtic supporter and he's a great connection with the club and our supporters.

"Up until today, things were not looking very great at all. Things changed this afternoon and were able to put a deal in very quickly.

"His situation at Spurs was made, I think, pretty plain to him. He always knew we were very, very keen to get him."

Transitional period

Lawwell said there was no specific option to make the move permanent but did not rule out doing just that in the summer.

He added: "What we find is that players that come to Celtic very rarely want to leave."

The Hoops supremo also denied that the signing of Keane, on a salary yet to be revealed, was merely a ploy to appease disgruntled supporters.

"We're in a transitional period at the moment," he said.

"Tony probably wasn't blessed with the strongest squad we've had here when he arrived.

"We were always looking to bring in quality, our supporters do deserve the best and that's what we do at Celtic."

Comments (70)

Noel Purcell (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

i am a massive fan of robbie keane,and i can not und erstand why spurs have allowed him to go to celtic,especialy at this vital time of the season.Spurs are pushing for that precious 4th spot and i would have thought that its players like robbie you would want around,someone who can give you that something different when needed.He is now going to be playing his football in a lower level than where he should be.I hope this does not hurt both parties ie.spurs and robbie.You will be missed,there's only one keano.

Posted 09:33 2nd February 2010

Gary Albone (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Cant understand why harry would let Robbie leave when we have a great chance of gainin CHAMPIONS LEAGUE football next season. Now we are down to 3 out and out strikers one of which cant get on the pitch for longer than 15 mins. I hope we dont get any injuries coz that could be the end of our push for 4th spot.

Posted 09:32 2nd February 2010

Stevie Blue (chelsea fan) (Chelsea fan) says...

I honestly cannot believe the hype around this guy going to Celtic, Ok I guess it is big for a small scottish club but lets get real here, Celtic trail Rangers by ten points, Rangers have a settled squad and a far better manager, by the time Celtics new boys (all players unwanted by their own clubs) gel Rangers will be at least 15 points clear and have the league in their pockets and Robbie will have raped Celtic of a small fortune in wages and delivered nothing, just like many headline grabbers that have gone before him, then it will be a the dole for Mogga and a big money English premiership move for MR Keane. Sorry Celtic fans but there it is in a nutshell!!

Posted 09:26 2nd February 2010

Paddy O'brien (Celtic fan) says...

Great signing for the Hoops, exactly the type of player we needed to kick start what has been a lacklustre season. I had my doubts about Mowbray especially when he seemed to be embarking on a destruction of the team but he has brought in a quality player in Keane and another good addition in Kamara. Haven't heard alot about the Dutch player but he can't be worse than Fox. Hopefully Robbie can stay a few seasons now and do alot better than his namesake did a few years ago.Mowbray is building for the future and with Keane at the forefront along with McGeady, McCourt,McGinn and O'Dea (possibly St Ledger in Summer) it's good to see an Irishness about the team which has been lacking for a while..Mon the Hoops

Posted 09:15 2nd February 2010

John Mc nally (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Sorry to see our Captain go, Tottenham should have got rid of Defoe instead, couldn't take a penalty if he tried. I hope Robbies back in the summer

Posted 09:05 2nd February 2010

Patrick Murphy (Arsenal fan) says...

Just a constructive thougt on Jim Baxters comments.Fair comment but Ian Wright and Roy Keane were past their best when they arrived at celtic and Criag Bellamy has a history of being inconsistent while he is a great player. I think Robbie is the better bet, the perfect age and a proven striker. But time will tell..

Posted 07:53 2nd February 2010

Gary Little (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

I think this is a very shrewd move by 'Arry; Robbie by his own admission has been out of sorts for a while now and i for one am happy that he has gone instead of Pavlyuchenko. He is still young enough to command a decent transfer fee in the summer should he go and bang in 10 - 15 goals for Celtic between now and the end of the season. Good luck to the lad because he always gives 100% but just lately that hasn't been enough, 'Arry brought him back from Liverpool to steady the ship and provide a positive dressing room influence, he's done that, served his purpose. I just hope that Pav gets a few more chances now because when fit and on his game he is probably just as much of a natural finisher as Defoe. All you 'Arry doubters, cast your mind back about 15 months ago and stop being so fickle.........In 'Arry we trust. To Dare is to Do!!!!!

Posted 07:52 2nd February 2010

Patrick Hughes says...

Robbie Keane is a symbolic addition to the Celtic team. Mowbray has added a player who will become a focus for attention on and off the field. At the same time other players who have been brought in will be allowed to fit into a system that already is proving to be exciting, entertaining and ultimately will be effective. The confidence of other players will rise as Keane takes the pressure. Like his brother he has self-belief a commodity often overlooked in this great game. Even if not playing well he does,nt hide. He does not let others either. Mowbray has a long term view that is apparant. The truly great Celtic servants had this as well. Welcome to the goldfish bowl Robbie. You will light up the SPL whether you score or not!!!!

Posted 07:41 2nd February 2010

James Keegans (Celtic fan) says...

Hats off to Mowbray. We have been horrendous at times this year with the likes of McDonald, McManus and Caldwell playing no where near as well as they should. He's dropped some of the dead weight in the team, brought in many talented youngsters, kept our best player (Brown, McGeady, Maloney...) and brought in the experience and killer instinct of Keane. All whilst not breaking the bank! I was calling for his head in December but he has earned my vote for now! Mon the Hoops!

Posted 22:02 1st February 2010

Craig Milligan (Rangers fan) says...

Have to admit, Keane is a great signing for Celtic, but all Rangers have to do is keep winning our games and there is nothing any Celtic player can do about us winning the league. Destination 53 !

Posted 22:00 1st February 2010

Bryan Spark (Rangers fan) says...

great signing for celtic, im sure he will score a good few goals, at the end of the day though if rangers keep winning its all to late for celtic.... im pretty disappointed that rangers never bothered with a signing again, same old story.

Posted 21:59 1st February 2010

Jamie Dignan (Celtic fan) says...

This is the 1st real solid signing Mowbray has made. So far he has faild to make any real impact in the transfer market and his focus on building his own celtic team has cost celtic some good established players. The only draw back with keane is after 6mths there is no way celtic can keep him at celtic park, fingers crossed Mowbray can show us we have been wrong to doubt his dealings in the market.

Posted 21:58 1st February 2010

Sean Ivers (Celtic fan) says...

Fantastic loan deal by Mr Mobray! This is the one that will win us the league. By my reckoning he has brought 12 in since he arrived so we should really start to see football played in the way Mogga wants to play. I hope the board provide the cash to make it permanent if Keane wins the league for us. Perhaps we could let Keane have all of his image rights and profits from shirt sales to pay part of it?

Posted 21:57 1st February 2010

Jim Baxter (Rangers fan) says...

Ian Wright, Craig Bellamy,and the other Keane - all came here as the Messiah on big wages - between them they played about 20 games and won Celtic nothing but raped them for millions. Even if Celtic win all their remaining league games they will still NEED Rangers to slip up TWICE - 2 in a row on its way. PS - How long before Keane is injured?

Posted 21:56 1st February 2010

Walter Smith (Rangers fan) says...

You can have title for that signing alone Mogga well done!! wish it was me

Posted 21:55 1st February 2010

Happy Ranger (Rangers fan) says...

all you's celtic fans are forgetting that the gers are still ten points clear. Big boydie better striker for the spl anyway the treble for the gers this year

Posted 21:54 1st February 2010

Kev Mccann (Celtic fan) says...

KEANO KEANO KEANO could be a bit but gr8 signin ...... bring on the 28th

Posted 21:37 1st February 2010

Lewis Hegarty (Celtic fan) says...

Robbie Keane class act, celtic fans are over the moon he has the chance to come to the team he loves. think he will terorise the spl defenders. beware!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 21:37 1st February 2010

Callum Fullarton (Rangers fan) says...

Rangers fans dont need to worry.. Robbie Keane will be rubbish at Celtic just like he was at Liverpool.He wont be able to handle the pressure of scottish football! Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller are ten times better than him anyway!

Posted 21:37 1st February 2010

Joel Lefley (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Robbie Keane is a wonderful footballer and whilst Spurs fans do not hold him in high esteem because of his Liverpool defection, Harry Redknapp could have made a big mistake letting him go. Celtic's gain is Tottenham's loss. Defoe, Crouch and co do not measure up to Robbie. He should have been playing more, at least he can take penalties unlike Defoe and he is a good captain. Good luck at Celtic Keano.

Posted 21:33 1st February 2010

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