CELTIC have confirmed the signing of highly rated defender Osaze Urhoghide on a four-year deal.

The Hoops announced the defender, 20, as Ange Postecoglou's first signing after taking the reins at Parkhead last month.

Urhoghide, who joins in a free transfer after his deal at Sheffield Wednesday expired, plays as a centre back but has deputised as a full-back on both sides during his time down south.

The Dutch-born defender, handed the number 26 shirt, hailed Postecoglou's vision for the club as he completed his switch to Glasgow.

"I spoke to the manager. He has a good vision for the club and the club is in a rebuilding stage. I see his passion and his work with young players and I feel he can help me develop into a better player", Urhoghide told CelticTV.

“To have the manager speak to you and to know he wants you is great. He told me the plans he has to get to the next level and it’s good to know the manager wants you in his plans to succeed.

“I’ll make a lot of big tackles in games and put in a lot of hard work. The work-rate will be there and the tackles will be there."

Urhoghide will once again team-up with Liam Shaw who also made the move to Parkhead from Sheffield Wednesday and now he’s desperate for the chance to perform on the European stage in front of a packed stadium.

He continued: “It’ll be good to see the fans when they get back into the stadium. I’ve heard about the atmosphere, especially in the European games, but also in the league games. To be at a big club like Celtic is just great, and to have the fans on your side supporting you like that, I’m excited.

“It’s a dream to play in the Champions League qualifiers and, hopefully, I can play in more games and show everyone on the European stage what I can do.

“I want to show the manager, the fans and my team-mates what I can do. Everyone’s pushing for a shirt at the start of the season and, with the European games coming up, we need to secure our place quickly so I’m ready."

Celtic claim they pipped top English and European clubs to sign the defender after he was linked with moves to Crystal Palace, Leeds and a host of European suitors including Sporting Lisbon.

Delighted Hoops boss Postecoglou said: “It’s great. He’s someone that the club’s been tracking for a while and when I came on board, I managed to have a meeting with him and he’s a good young man, he’s very ambitious.

“He’s just beginning his football career but he shows all the attributes on and off the field to want to become a top player, so it’s great to get him here.

"He can play a couple of positions at the back and, most importantly, he’s really keen to learn and develop and I think this will be a great environment for him.

“He’s a modern defender. He’s good athletically, he’s mobile, he’s quick and he wants to get on the ball.

"He can play a couple of different positions, and from our perspective, and the way we want to play our football, there are certain things I look for in players irrespective of age, and he’s got some really good attributes to be a top defender.

“The most important thing is, he’s got a real desire to reach the very top. He’s excited about joining the club, which is important to me because that’s the first thing I want to hear from players, that they’re really keen to join us.”