Toure honoured to join Celtic

New Celtic signing Kolo Toure has spoken about how honoured he is to have joined the club today after watching the side in yesterday’s International Champions Cup against Leicester.

Toure was announced as a Celtic player earlier today, joining on a free transfer, despite the latest Premier League lines suggesting he may well join another top-flight English club. He has signed a one-year deal.

The 35-year-old has spoken of the privilege of signing for a club as big as Celtic, adding to a list of big name teams he has played for. Toure has already lined up for Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool in his career to date – and has won two Premier League titles in his 17-year career.

Speaking to Celtic’s official website for the first time, he said:

I feel great. 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.

The Ivorian left Liverpool at the start of this month after the Premier League club opted against extending his deal. This gave ex-Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers the chance to swoop in and bring Toure to Scotland. Toure has cited Rodgers as one of the reasons he signed.

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.

Despite his elder age, Toure has professed his ever-burning love for the game and has his own personal trainer to maintain his fitness to play matches.

I’ve played in good teams in England with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.

The first thing is that I love the game and the only thing I know is hard work. I’ll give everything I’ve got to help the team succeed and that’s my main target.

I feel great. I have a special personal trainer and I was back in the Ivory Coast training with him. My body is ready, ready to work hard and give everything for the club.

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.

Toure won’t feature in Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Astana in Kazakstan, but will link up with the squad later in the week.