Reo Hatate, born on the 21st of November 1997 and now aged 27, is a Japanese footballer who currently wears the number 41 shirt for Celtic, primarily featuring in the central midfield position. Standing at 5ft 7in tall (1.71m) and weighing in at 11st (70kg), Hatate has proven himself to be a resilient and consistent player, also representing the national team of his native Japan.
According to Transfermarkt, Hatate commands a market value of around £9.5m, at the time of writing. His current contract with Celtic, which is set to conclude on the 31st of May 2028, still has 3 years and 1 month left.
Before his Celtic journey began, Hatate spent a significant part of his football career with Kawasaki Frontale in the J1 League in Japan. He made his official move to Kawasaki Frontale in August 2018. His debut season in 2019 consisted of a single first-team league appearance. Screens were turned on this young talent when he subsequently made 31 appearances and scored five league goals in 2020, continuing this form with another 30 appearances with an equal number of goals in 2021.
By January 2022, Hatate was ready for a new challenge and Celtic in the Scottish Premiership seized the opportunity, acquiring him for a fee of around £1.4m. In his inaugural season, he played 17 league matches and found the net four times. His 2022 - 2023 season saw him chalk up 32 appearances and six successful strikes on goal, followed up by 16 appearances with three goals in the 2023 - 2024 season. His current form in the 2024 - 2025 season is impressive as he has participated 36 times in first-team league matches and netted 10 balls.
That said, Hatate's contribution to Celtic isn't limited to national leagues. He also played a vital role in international arenas such as the Champions League, the League Cup, and the Scottish Cup during different seasons. His notable performance in the World Cup Qualifiers Asia 2024 - 2026 for Japan also deserves recognition. As a testament to his capabilities, he has scored once in the Champions League 2024 - 2025 in his quest to bring glory to Celtic.
