fortune favours the hoops

Gregor Kyle
CELTIC Football Club is delighted to announce the latest signing of the summer, with centre forward Marc-Antoine Fortune signing on a three-year contract.

The 28-year-old French Guiana-born striker joins Celtic from French Ligue 1 side, AS Nancy, after a six-month loan spell with manager Tony Mowbray’s former club West Bromwich Albion.

Fortune scored on his debut at Albion and impressed during the second half of the league campaign.

After undergoing a successful medical yesterday (Tuesday, July 7) the Frenchman pledged his future to the club and is thrilled by the prospect of challenging for the Scottish Premier League title with his old boss.

“This is where I want to be,” said Fortune. “Having met the people at the club and knowing all about the club’s fantastic pedigree and support, this is where I saw my future.

“I am looking forward to the challenge of winning the league title, competing for the cups and playing in Europe, in front of the Celtic supporters.

“I am also looking forward to working with my manager, Tony Mowbray, once again. I had a great experience with him, Mark Venus and Peter Grant in the Premiership last season and I am looking forward to now working with him at one of Europe’s biggest football clubs.”

Tony Mowbray is equally enthused about the prospect of being re-united with his former charge and added: “Marc is a quality player and at West Brom he was a privilege to work with.

“Some of his play in the second half of the season was phenomenal and, if you look at our goals ratio as a team after he joined, you can see the impact he made.

“He is a team player, we were delighted with the way he performed in the Premiership and are looking forward to working with him at Celtic.”

Fortune will officially join up with the first-team squad today, ahead of the team’s trip to Australia for the pre-season game against Brisbane Roar.

He will be officially unveiled as a Celtic player at a press conference at 10.15am at Celtic Park tomorrow (Thursday, July 9).