New Celtic forward Jonathan Afolabi says he cannot wait to take the next step in his career after joining the club from Southampton.

The 19-year-old failed to impress Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl and has spent the last two seasons playing for the club’s Under-18 and Under-23 teams. Hoops coach Neil Lennon has identified him as a star for the future, and the Dublin-born ace is now ready to test himself in the Scottish Premiership.

Afolabi scored four goals in 14 Premier League 2 appearances last season, but he believes the Celtic staff and playing squad will take his game to another level. He told the club’s official website: “It’s been great so far.

This is a big move for me, and everything has been going well so far. The boys have been very welcoming, the fans have been great as well, and I’m delighted to be part of this family now. I can’t wait to drive forward from here.

“Celtic is just a stand-out team for me, and they have a great reputation of bringing youngsters from the Academy through the ranks. This is a great club, with a great history, and a great place for me to be a part of. I look forward to helping out in the seasons ahead.

“With such a talented pool of players, it’s going to take time and hard work to break in, to prove myself to the manager and the dressing room – but that’s something I would have to do anyway. Hopefully, I can get a bit of time on the pitch in the future to showcase what I’ve got.”