Camilo Durán signs for Celtic as club's first Colombian

Scottish champions Celtic have kicked off their summer transfer business by signing Colombian striker Camilo Durán. The 24-year-old arrives from Azerbaijani side Qarabag for an undisclosed fee, putting pen to paper on a five-year deal. Durán enjoyed a blistering campaign last time out, racking up 15 goals and 10 assists across all competitions. He was particularly prolific in the Champions League, where he found the net five times in ten appearances. It is that stage that convinced him to make the move to Glasgow. “Playing in the Champions League was a dream come true. It's something you dream about as a kid, so scoring goals felt incredible. I want to keep doing that here — scoring in the Champions League. I give my all in every game and hopefully the goals will follow,” Durán told the club’s media. The transfer also carries historical weight: Durán becomes the first Colombian ever to wear the Celtic jersey. The forward is hoping his performances at Parkhead will open the door to the Colombia national team. “It’s an honour to be the first Colombian to play for Celtic. I’ve dreamt of playing for my country since I was a child, and I believe that if I work hard here, one day that dream will come true,” he said. Durán’s career has accelerated rapidly. Last summer he moved to Qarabag — who finished second in the Azerbaijani Premier League — from Portuguese second-tier side Portimonense. Now he is preparing for life at a historic British club. Currently back in Portugal, Durán has linked up with Celtic’s training camp. “When I first heard of the interest, I didn’t hesitate. I told the manager how happy I am to be here and I hope to repay him with my performances,” the striker added.