Extreme Football Forum  |  Football Forums  |  Scottish Football  |  Topic: Celtic close in on deal for Olivier Kapo

BBC

Celtic have completed an 18-month deal for former Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic midfielder Olivier Kapo.

The 30-year-old one-time French international was a free agent, having been released by Wigan in the summer.

He joined the Latics from Birmingham for a £3.5m fee in July 2008, having moved to St Andrews from Italian giants Juventus a year earlier.

"My wish is to stay here for as long as possible and to perform as best I can for the club," said Kapo.

"I know the club quite well through the Champions League and the Glasgow derby, which you can't miss, and also because of my friend Perrier-Doumbe who used to play for Celtic.

"I spent 11 years with him in Auxerre, so we grew up together as young players. He's like my brother and we spend holidays together.

"Before I came here I called him and asked him about Celtic. He told me they are a good team, with great fans and a big stadium, and that the staff and everything are good as well."

The Ivory Coast-born midfielder broke into the French national side during his days at Auxerre, moving to Juve under freedom of contract in 2004.