Aaron Mooy links up with Ange Postecoglou at Celtic

Tom Naghten

Aaron Mooy links up with Ange Postecoglou at Celtic image

Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy will link up with former national team coach Ange Postecoglou after Scottish champions Celtic confirmed the 31-year-old was joining the club on a two-year deal.

Mooy has been playing for Shanghai Port in China but now looks set to return to Europe's elite with Celtic to feature in the Champions League next season.

“It’s an amazing feeling and I’m just so happy to be here. It’s a massive club with a huge history, and I want to be part of it, so I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead,” Mooy said about the move.

“It’s always a bit stressful when you’re talking with a club, especially a club like Celtic because they’re such a massive club, so I’m delighted that it’s all done and I can get to work and hit the training ground.

“Ange was my coach for about three years in the national team so I know the standards he wants, and I’m looking forward to working with him again.

“I’ve had a few weeks without the ball so I’m looking forward to touching the ball again and getting my fitness up and meeting my new team-mates and the staff.”

MORE: Why Celtic and Aaron Mooy are a match made in heaven

It won't be Mooy's first taste of Scottish football - he had two seasons at St Mirren early in his career before returning to his hometown as one of Western Sydney Wanderers' inaugural players.

“I played for St Mirren when I was a youngster – that was a while ago – and I’ve always been back and forth to Glasgow because of family, so it’s an amazing opportunity and one that I couldn’t turn down,” he added.

Mooy's signing was announced alongside that of 23-year-old German centre back Moritz Jenz from Ligue 1 side Lorient.

In his first season with the Hoops, Postecoglou guided the club to the Premiership, having finished second to Rangers by 25 points the previous season.

The Australian coach, who added Socceroos great Harry Kewell to his staff this off-season, will be hoping Mooy and Jenz can help keep them at the top as well as contend in Europe.

“I obviously know Aaron from my time coaching the Australian national team, and he brings with him a wealth of experience at both club and international level,” Postecoglou said.

“Moritz is a player we’ve been aware for a while now, and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to sign him.

“They’ve already had the chance to meet the rest of the squad, and I’m sure they’ll settle in very quickly into what is a very welcoming group of players, and I know that our supporters will be looking forward to seeing them both in a Celtic jersey.”

 

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.