Celtic have completed the signing of former Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool defender Kolo Toure.
Toure, 35, has signed a one-year deal and reunites with former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers at Celtic Park.
The centre-back, who played in Liverpool’s Europa League final defeat to Sevilla in May, was a free agent after the expiry of his contract at Anfield.
Celtic delighted to sign Kolo Toure, https://t.co/V9KeK2nCDR (PV) pic.twitter.com/U9a7DZC0mR
– Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) July 24, 2016
Rodgers told Celtic’s official website: “I brought Kolo into Liverpool to add that bit of experience and help to the centre-halves there at the time.
“You saw from his impact there and in particular last season, he was a very important player for Jurgen Klopp towards the end of last season, playing in the Europa League final.
“He was outstanding in the big games for me when I was there. He looks after himself, he’s a wonderful professional and he has good experience.
“With a lot of young players in our squad, he can really help them and he can be of great assistance for the likes of Scott Brown, who is a wonderful leader.
“But he needs support and help around him as well. It will be nice for Scotty to have someone behind him who has that real big-game experience. Kolo can do very well for us.”
Toure becomes Rodgers’ second signing following the arrival of Moussa Dembele from Fulham.
He told Celtic TV: “I feel really excited because it’s going to be a new challenge for me. I’ve come to one of the biggest clubs in the world and it’s a privilege for me to be here.
“I know a few friends who play football here and I know what the club has been achieving, winning a lot of trophies and playing Champions League a lot so that’s something I’m looking at.
“I played with Brendan when he was at Liverpool and when we spoke about the chance for me to come here I was really happy because we know each other for a long time now. We’ve worked together and he’s a top manager. For me it’s a privilege to come and work with him again.”
He added: “I have been playing for top clubs and I’m used to the challenge and I’m here to give everything I’ve got to win my place. You can only win your place on the pitch and that’s through hard work, dedication and determination and I’m ready for that.”
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