Premier League club confirm ‘exciting’ £2.6m capture; Celtic miss out

Scottish champions Celtic have officially missed out on Iceland goalkeeper Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson with Brentford confirming his £2.6 million move to the Premier League outfit. 

Just two days after Horatiu Moldovan joined Atletico Madrid, another talented shot-stopper linked with a move to Parkhead has put pen to paper elsewhere.

Hakon Valdimarsson reportedly caught Celtic’s eye during a superb end to 2023 with Elfsborg and Iceland, one particularly eye-catching performance against Portugal in the European Championship qualifiers doing his reputation no harm at all.

But, after also missing out Moldovan and with Valdimarsson doing what HITC Football said he would, The Hoops will have to turn their attention elsewhere as they scour the market for a potential, long-term Joe Hart replacement.

“I’m very, very happy that we’ve managed to sign Hakon; there was competition from a lot of other clubs, including some in the Premier League,” Bees boss Thomas Frank smiles, Aston Villa reportedly submitting an offer of their own before Brentford agreed a deal worth just shy of £3 million.

“We are growing as a club, and we have proven that we make players better. Hakon is an exciting keeper. He is good at dominating his box, claiming crosses from set-pieces and in open play. His distribution is also at a high level. He fits the way we want to play, which is very important.

“Hakon is coming in to strengthen our goalkeeper group and to compete.”

Celtic looking for Joe Hart replacements

It remains to be seen what Valdimarsson’s arrival means for Tomas Strakosha and Mark Flekken, currently Frank’s second and first-choice goalkeepers. Neither has really succeeded in filling the void created by David Raya’s departure to Arsenal last summer.

Valdimarsson arrives in West London after winning the Goalkeeper of the Year award for his stellar performances in Sweden’s top-flight.

The aforementioned Moldovan, meanwhile, secured his move to the Spanish capital a few days ago. That paved the way for Atletico Madrid to send Ivo Grbic to Sheffield United, The Blades landing the one-time West Brom target for £2 million.

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