Source: Team_Talk
Bhoys boosted by Hooiveld signing
The 26-year-old, who is the Hoops' first January signing, has joined from Swedish outfit AIK Solna.[LNB]Hooiveld told his new club's official website: "I'm delighted to sign for a club of Celtic's stature.[LNB]"Celtic has a magnificent history and is a club with great tradition and great supporters."[LNB]He added: "Having visited the club and spoken to the manager, I feel this is the right place for me and I am very much looking forward to meeting up with my new team-mates and hopefully playing my part in bringing success to the club and our fans."[LNB]Hoops boss Tony Mowbray said: "We are very pleased to welcome Jos to Celtic.[LNB]"He is a player who we believe can make an important contribution to the club and someone we look forward to working with."[LNB]Hooiveld helped AIK win the Swedish double in his only season with the club, who have fallen on hard times financially.[LNB]The defender failed to make the grade at first club Heerenveen and was even rejected by Livingston after a trial there in 2005.[LNB]After a loan spell at Dutch second division side FC Zwolle, he moved to Austrian side Kapfenberger SV.[LNB]The following season, he joined Finnish club Inter Turku and earned himself a move to AIK two years later.[LNB]Celtic must also consider whether to make a fresh bid for Preston defender Sean St Ledger after seeing an approach rejected by the Coca-Cola Championship club last week.[LNB]Deepdale chairman Derek Shaw said of the Republic of Ireland international: "We accept Sean wants to play at a higher level and has his international career to think of, so the ball is in Celtic's court."[LNB]Hooiveld and St Ledger would fill the void left by Gary Caldwell's impending departure.[LNB]The Hoops have agreed a fee with Middlesbrough for the sale of Scotland defender Caldwell and midfielder Barry Robson, though there have been reports of the former holding talks with Wigan.[LNB]Willo Flood and Chris Killen are also close to a reunion with former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan at the Riverside.[LNB]Meanwhile, it is understood that striker Scott McDonald - who has been linked with a move to Wigan - is due to fly to Germany for surgery on a hernia problem.[LNB]He is expected to be out for up to 10 days once he goes under the knife.[LNB]That would rule him out of Saturday's SPL game with Falkirk and possibly the Scottish Cup fourth-round tie at Morton.[LNB]The match had been rescheduled for Tuesday night but has been put back to next Monday, once again because of a frozen pitch.[LNB][LNB]
