Celtic signs Biram Kayal
Scottish Premier League (SPL) outfit Celtic FC has completed the signing of Biram Kayal from Israeli team Maccabi Haifa FC. The club’s chief executive Peter Lawwell conducted talks with the player, who arrived in Glasgow earlier this week to negotiate a deal. The discussions proved fruitful, with the Israel international signing a four-year deal subject to obtaining a work permit. He will wear the number 33 shirt at his new club.
The midfielder has become boss Neil Lennon’s seventh signing of the summer as he continues to reshape the Parkhead first-team squad, and the 22 year-old Kayal has spoken of his delight at making the move to Scotland. At a press conference at the club’s Lennoxtown Training Centre, he told reporters that: “This is a very big move for me, it is a dream come true. Last week, during the discussions I could not sleep, I couldn’t wait to be where I am now. When you say Celtic, you think it is a big name, it’s a big community and it’s a big city. It is one of the best clubs in the world and I’m happy to play for them.”
Having been a part of an Israeli Premier League-winning side, Kayal knows what it takes to help a club secure silverware, and is eager to assist the Hoops in bringing trophies back to Celtic Park. He said: “I’m excited and I am just thinking about the minute I go on to the pitch and play for the Celtic fans. I am a hard worker and I can’t wait to get started. I am a player who gives everything, every time. I play for the fans and I play for the manager. I was like this at every club I have played at before and this attitude fits everywhere.”
New recruit
The new recruit joins Mexico’s 2010 FIFA World Cup midfielder Efrain Juarez, left-back Charlie Mulgrew, right-back Cha Du-Ri, Wales internationals and former Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ledley, and strikers Daryl Murphy and Gary Hooper as the latest additions to Lennon’s squad. Cha Du-Ri, Mulgrew, Ledley and Juarez made their competitive debuts in a Champions League third qualifying round first-leg defeat against SC Braga in Portugal.
Kayal started out his career as a striker, as he worked his way up through the youth ranks at Maccabi Haifa. As a 16 year-old, the player was called up to the Under-19 squad for the 2005-06 season and played a key role in the youth team’s league and cup double win and was named the league’s Outstanding Player in the progress. Kayal made his senior debut for Maccabi Haifa at the end of the following season in a 2-1 victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva, a win which secured the club its third league title in-a-row.
In 2006-07, he made six top-team appearances, but was also named captain of the Under-19 team and guided them to yet another double trophy win for the youth side. He scored a hat-trick against Beitar Jerusalem in the match, which saw his team secure the league championship and was named the Under-19 League’s Most Valuable Player.
The 2007-08 season saw Kayal become a force in the first team, featuring 36 times and becoming a regular in the side. He has since enjoyed further silverware success, having won an Israeli Premier League title in 2008-09 as well as being part of the team which won the Toto Cup in season 2007-08. In total, Kayal features 124 times for the Maccabi Haifa first team and scored eight goals before making the switch to the SPL. The youngster has also made an impact at international level, having been capped 13 times for Israel.
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