Celtic sign Canadian international Johnston

Canada international Alistair Johnston has signed for Celtic on a five-year deal, the Scottish champions announced on Saturday.

Johnston will arrive in Glasgow from CF Montreal, where he impressed in Major League Soccer last season.

The 24-year-old started all three of Canada’s matches at the World Cup as they were knocked out at the group stages.

“When a club like Celtic comes calling, it will turn any footballer’s head, and especially for myself, growing up in a British household, Celtic was one of the clubs that is near and dear to our hearts,” Johnston told the Celtic website.

“For me, it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world.”

The right-back will reportedly cost the Glasgow giants around £3 million ($3.7 million).

Johnston’s arrival could also allow Celtic to cash in on Croatian international Josip Juranovic, who has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs, in the January transfer window.

“I’m delighted. He’s someone we identified pretty early on as somebody we think can add to our club,” said Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou.

“He’s had an interesting career path where he’s had to work very hard to get to where he is, and we’re very happy to conclude the deal and knowing he was going to the World Cup. I think he performed well there as well.”

Johnston will not be eligible to play until the transfer window opens in January, ruling him out of Celtic’s first four matches after the World Cup break.