CELTIC COMPLETE TRIPLE SWOOP

The combined fee for the trio is around £7.4 million, with Hartson costing £6 million and Guppy and Sylla both in the region of £700,000.

All three will be available for the club`s Champions League qualifier against Ajax, after the club beat the Uefa deadline.

Coventry striker Hartson has signed a four-year contract and was delighted to have passed his medical, after previous failed examinations had cost him moves to Tottenham and Rangers.

"What gives me the most pleasure is coming through the medical," said Hartson.

"There was a black mark hanging over me on the medical but I've played over 40 games since then and proved that my knee is fine.

"I'm just delighted to be a Celtic player and I'm ready to play now."

The Welshman also defended his decision to move, after being openly criticised by Coventry chairman Bryan Richardson.

"I said to the chairman that I was fully committed to staying at Coventry but now Celtic have come in and it's a different ball game," said the former Arsenal and West Ham front-man.

"I'm sure none of my old team-mates at Coventry will begrudge me getting this move up here.

"I'm not going to say anything about the chairman. He paid my wages, he's a great guy and I just wish them all the best.

"I'm really happy to be here now and I want to thank Martin O'Neill for giving me the chance to play for such a great club."

Guppy has put pen to paper on a three-year deal and the 32-year-old Leicester winger was particularly happy to be joining up again with his former Foxes and Wycombe boss O`Neill.

"I've had four years under Martin at Leicester and five with him at Wycombe before that so he knows what he's getting," said Guppy.

"Hopefully I can do well for him but it will be very hard to get in the team, especially after what they achieved last season."

O`Neill himself was delighted to have sealed the triple swoop and said. "Having lost a number of players during the summer, it was essential to bring the squad back to last season's strength and I still hope to add to its depth in the coming weeks.

"I am delighted to welcome John Hartson, Steve Guppy and Momo Sylla to Celtic Park.

"Our season is just one game old and I am confident that all three will play important roles in the coming months."

African wing back Sylla, has agreed a five-year deal with the Scottish champions after completing his move from St Johnstone.