We are pleased to announce that Yokohama F. Marinos will be the first opposition for the newly-crowned cinch Premiership Champions as part of the Celtic FC Japan Tour 2023 to be held in July this year.

Ange Postecoglou’s back-to-back champions will face his former club at the Nissan Stadium on Wednesday, July 19 and it’s a match that he is looking forward to.

The Celtic manager said: “I’m delighted to be taking Celtic to Japan this summer and it’s a tour made even more special by the prospect of facing my old team, Yokohama F. Marinos.

“It’s a great club that holds some special memories for me and I look forward to meeting up with friends there in July.”

The game will also be a special one for Daizen Maeda, who is returning to his former club, having spent 18 months there before moving to Scotland.

The Celtic attacker, who has enjoyed a very impressive season in the green and white Hoops, said: “I’m really looking forward to our pre-season visit to Japan and in particular, returning to play against Yokohama F. Marinos.

“It is a club which has played a major role in my career and, of course, it will be a pleasure to return home with Celtic and see my friends at the club and the Marinos supporters.”

Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder, Takuya Kida, is looking forward to welcoming Celtic to Japan, and he said, “I am very excited to play against Celtic FC, led by Ange Postecoglou, who has made a great contribution to our club.

“I have friends in Celtic FC with whom I have shared good times. There are many other great players as well. We will do our best and play together to show the world how great Yokohama F. Marinos can be.”

Tickets for the match between Yokohama F. Marinos and Celtic on Wednesday, July 19 (KO: 7pm Japanese time) will go on sale at https://w.pia.jp/t/celtic-japantour2023 from this Friday, May 12 (10am Celtic Park time).

Celtic to play Yokohama F. Marinos on Japan tour