Hayato Inamura Endures 4‑0 Defeat before Celtic switch

Celtic-bound centre-back Hayato Inamura played the full 90 minutes as Albirex Niigata crumbled to a crushing 4–0 loss against Machida Zelvia at their home ground. The defeat highlights serious defensive vulnerabilities, leaving the club 19th in the J1 League and firmly in relegation trouble.

Despite the performance, Japanese outlets confirm this was expected to be Inamura’s last match before his move to Celtic is finalised early next week, with the player set to travel to Scotland for a medical and contract completion.

At 23 years old, Inamura has appeared in 15 league games this season, impressing as a left-footed centre-back with strong positional awareness and passing accuracy. He joins a growing list of successful J‑League exports to Celtic, including Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, and Reo Hatate.

Although the farewell was far from ideal, Celtic manager will remain confident in Inamura’s long-term potential—and with his arrival timed ahead of pre-season, he’s expected to provide valuable defensive depth in the upcoming campaign.