Celtic Crush Newcastle in Pre-Season Thriller as New Signing Shin Yamada Awaits Debut
Celtic continued their strong pre-season form with a dominant 4-0 victory over Premier League side Newcastle United at Parkhead on Saturday. The win marked their fourth triumph in five warm-up matches, with goals from Arne Engels, Johnny Kenny, Hyun-jun Yang, and Liam Scales delighting the home crowd.
Manager Brendan Rodgers will be pleased with his team’s progress, though further reinforcements are expected as the club continues shaping its squad for the upcoming campaign. One such addition is Japanese striker Shin Yamada, who joined Celtic on a permanent deal from Kawasaki Frontale just hours before the Newcastle clash. While Yamada was unveiled to the fans, he wasn’t registered in time to feature.
Can Celtic Reignite Shin Yamada’s Form?
Yamada arrives in Glasgow after a difficult 2025 J1 League season, where he managed just two goals in 21 appearances for Kawasaki Frontale—a stark contrast to his stellar 2024 campaign, where he netted 19 times in 38 league matches.
Rodgers has expressed confidence in the 25-year-old, telling the club’s official website: “He’s a strong player who can score and create goals. He’ll add an important dimension to our attack.” If Celtic can help Yamada rediscover his previous form, he could become a major threat in the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic Eyeing Winger to Boost Attack
To further strengthen their forward line, Celtic are reportedly in talks to sign Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha. The Daily Record claims negotiations are ongoing, with Antwerp boss Stef Wils admitting a move is “possible” amid the player’s expiring contract.
Balikwisha, valued at around £5m, could be an ideal creative partner for Yamada. Despite injury struggles last season, the Belgian winger impressed with four goals and three assists in just 12 Pro League starts. His ability to generate chances (1.99 per 90) and deliver key passes could provide Yamada with the service needed to thrive.
Why Yamada Would Benefit from Balikwisha’s Arrival
Yamada’s dip in form last season was partly due to a lack of consistent service—something Balikwisha could remedy. The winger’s creativity (top 29% for chances created among peers) and attacking contributions suggest he could be the perfect foil for the Japanese striker. If Celtic finalize the deal, Rodgers may have a dynamic duo capable of terrorizing Premiership defenses.
With pre-season momentum building and new signings on the horizon, Celtic fans have plenty of reasons for optimism ahead of the new campaign.
