Intermediaries have offered Celtic's Japanese midfielder Reo Hatate to Palmeiras. The 28-year-old, who has been in Scottish football since 2022, was put forward as Palmeiras actively monitor the UK market and prioritise signing a centre-back and a central midfielder. The approach reportedly came from the player's representatives attempting to create a transfer, and from Celtic's side, there is no indication of a formal approach or any registered interest. The situation is viewed as exploratory and external rather than being driven by the clubs.
The expectation in Brazil is that discussions will not proceed because Palmeiras’ board does not consider Hatate to fit the internal profile defined for the position, meaning no negotiations are planned at this stage. Hatate, who has 11 caps for Japan, has a contract with the Scottish club until May 2028 and a current market value of €12.00m, according to Transfermarkt. In the current 2025/2026 season, he has made 20 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
