Celtic are signing a player who will potentially be 'world class' according to the president of new Hoops signing Yang Hyun-jun's former club.

Brendan Rodgers' side have swooped to sign Yang from Gangwon FC as well as South Korean countryman Kwon Hyeok-kyu from Busan IPark.

And Gangwon president Kim Byung-ji reckons Yang could go on to emulate another South Korean icon, Spurs star Son Heung-min.

He said: "I hope Yang will continue to grow. He could easily become a world class player like Son Heung-min.

"He was a mainstay for our team and was an inspiration.

"I look forward to watching him produce brilliant performances for Celtic in the future.

"My hope is that he never forgets Gangwon and we always have a special place in his heart for his future journey and I hope he returns to visit us.

"I know he will go to Celtic and become a better player too. He carries with him to Scotland the love and support of our players and fans

"We wish him all the very best."

Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers is “really looking forward” to stepping up Celtic’s pre-season preparations in Japan after ending “a fantastic week” in Portugal with a 4-1 friendly win over Portimonense on Saturday.

The recently-appointed Hoops boss has enjoyed running the rule over his team at their warm-weather training camp in the Algarve over the past week.

And Rodgers, whose side kick off their cinch Premiership title defence at home to Ross County on August 5, is excited about seeing Celtic continue the build-up to the new campaign on their Japanese tour, with matches against J-League sides Yokohama F.Marinos on Wednesday and Gamba Osaka next Saturday.

“It is a tough schedule over the two weeks, here in the heat (in Portugal) and it will be similar heat in Japan, with the humidity,” Rodgers told Celtic’s website on Saturday.

“Obviously the teams we’re playing out there are already halfway through their season, so it will be a step-up again in challenge for us, but that’s what we want.

“We need that challenge at this time of the season to improve our fitness level. We’ll get back today (Saturday), recover tonight and then we’re away tomorrow, and I’m really looking forward to Japan.”