Alistair Johnston has revealed the 'outpouring love' from the Celtic support as he labelled his move to Parkhead as a 'match made in heaven'.
The Canada World Cup star has penned a long-term five-year deal after Ange Postecoglou swooped to snap up the right-back from CF Montreal. He is the second player to sign on the dotted line at the Scottish champions ahead of the January transfer window opening for business with highly-regarded J-League defender Yuki Kobayashi also in the door.
It's been a 'crazy time' for the 24-year-old who has been at the finals in Qatar while completing a big move in his career. Johnston has loved the welcome he has had branding it 'unique and special' while he knows he is going to have to hit the ground running and show his class in order to land a spot in the Celtic starting team. On the move, he said: "It has been hectic. I tweeted about it a couple of times but it is no joke, the Celtic fans almost broke my phone, just the outpouring of love has been pretty crazy.
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"That, doubled up with participating in a World Cup at the same time, it is a crazy time in my life. I am super-excited to get here.
"Everyone has been so warm and welcoming.
"Even just walking around the town centre people have been coming up and saying, 'congratulations, you have signed for the biggest club in the world'.
"It has been a unique and special welcome."
Johnston, whose dad's side of the family is English and Scottish while his mother is from Northern Ireland, played against Hoops full-back Josip Juranovic in Canada's 4-1 defeat by Croatia in Qatar.
Juranovic has been linked with a big-money move away from Celtic after some terrific performances in Qatar, while Scotland defender Anthony Ralston is also standing in Johnston's way. However, the new recruit is ready to fight for his place.
He continued: "I did actually talk to him (Juranovic) afterwards and said hello.
"He was really good about coming to find me after a big 4-1 win for them. He is a great player. Nothing is going to be given (at Celtic), everything will be earned.
"That is something all aspiring footballers want, an opportunity, and that is something the coaching staff has been very strong about, that we are trying to play a certain way and we want to bring in some young, talented players that have an edge to them.
"I fit that mould but the other two right-backs have that as well but I am here to fight for my place and hopefully earn some minutes.
"It is very attacking at Celtic. It is exactly how I like to play the game. It is a good fit for me.
"It is a match made in heaven for me, so it was a pretty easy decision."
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