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Fullname: Yamada Shin
aka: Shin Yamada [see notes]
Born: 30 May 2000
Birthplace: Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Japan
Signed: 19 July 2025 (est £1.2m from Kawasaki Frontal)
On Loan: 27 January 2026-31 May 2026 (to Preussen Munster, Germany)
Left: –
Position: Forward, Striker
Debut: Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic, SP, 10 Aug 2025
Squad No.: 18
Internationals: Japan
International Caps: [TBC at end of career]
International Goals: [TBC at end of career]
Biog
Shin Yamada arrived at Celtic who had been buoyed over the past season with another league title and a decent outing in the Champions League, managing to just get past the group stages. However, Celtic had already begun an uncomfortable regression which culminated in losing the Scottish Cup final in May 2025. However, the general feeling was that a refresh was required and that the manager Brendan Rodgers would turn it all around with reinforcements needed to re-energise the squad.
Celtic were now into recruiting a new wave of players from the Far East but it was only really the first wave of players who had been a success (i.e. Kyogo, Maeda and Hatate), and it was hoped that the newer players would help reboot this strategy. With Kyogo recently gone six months earlier, a new dependable striker was required, and Yamada was hoped to fit the bill. He’d shown promise at his home club Kawasaki Frontale with a notably 21 goals in 51 games in the 2024 season. However, his last season before he arrived was a dip in form, but it was argued that possibly he needed a new club to push himself. At 25 he wasn’t coming as a project, but many were concerned that he was not exactly a top level player from Japan not even making the Japan B side, and only one senior cap for Japan.
Reputedly, a mobile, intelligent forward who was unafraid of the challenge, with ability with both feet and a good leap.
Being 5foot 11″ he was definitely more robust than Kyogo whose physical stature was often raised as negative point, and even self-admitted that he felt he had more speed & strength than Kyogo, and with some instinctive finishing he could be a success.
Despite those positive notes, at Celtic he little convinced anyone of his worth from the get go. He won a number of appearances, albeit mostly from the bench, but never managed to even score a single goal against any oppositions. He wasn’t even added to the Europa League squad which must have been very demoralising as he was pushing to make a reputation that would help him make the Japanese national squad for the upcoming World Cup. Even pundit & ex-Celt Chris Sutton was sympathetic of the player’s plight (despite being unafraid to be caustic when need be):
“Why are four of the summer signings not in the Europa League squad? That says it all. Shin Yamada comes off the bench at Ibrox while Johnny Kenny isn’t in the squad but the roles are reversed days later. I feel sorry for Yamada. I don’t think he’s a world beater, but he’s shown signs he could be useful.”
To make matters worse for him, he even played in the humiliating 2-0 defeat for the Celtic B side v East Kilbride in the Scottish League Challenge Cup. Taking in that the Celtic B side was all professionals, some even highly paid with first team experience, that result was unfathomable. It further didn’t help Yamada’s case out at Celtic.
He was struggling badly and on-field clearly lacked confidence. He was showing little of the technique, poise & control it was hoped he would bring to the side.
In fairness to him, the environment at Celtic was a disaster. The sacking of Brendan Rodgers, the disastrous and then the two return spells of Martin O’Neill as interim manager didn’t help for consistency and development. Add in that, European football & culture was a completely new challenge for him, let alone just Scotland, it was a lot to ask of anyone to quickly step up to the challenge.
He was long out the picture, and even Martin O’Neill who was giving many sidelined players a further change, clearly didn’t have much confidence in Yamada, never playing him once in his first spell, only playing him once in a 2-0 win over Auchinleck in the Scottish Cup. He may have been marked as a potential successor for Kyogo, but never came close. To make matters even worse, Celtic were desperate for any strikers to lead the line, even taking in an aged & perennially injured Iheanacho to be played ahead of him. Even when Iheanacho was out long injured, Yamada was not the automatic replacement.
Having been sidelined so much, and not being even in the minds of anyone for a first team pick, in January 2026 Shin Yamada was sent out on loan to second tier German side Preußen Münster on loan until the end of the season. He needed this change of scenery for his own sake.
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Quotes
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Playing Career
[Table to indicate clubs played for, including dates, transfers and fees where known [e.g. soccerbase table]]
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2025-26 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-27 | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| 2027-28 | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| 2028-29 | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| Total | |||||
| Goals |
Honours with Celtic
(Honours are marked below in which the player has played in at least one of the matches in the campaign.)
Scottish League
- […]
Scottish Cup
- […]
Scottish League Cup
- […]
Pictures
Forums
Notes
- The standard in the Far East for names is for the surname to first so that’s why you may at times see his name written as Yamada Shin, but as is the standard throughout much of the rest of the world, it’s [First Name, Surname] so Shin Yamada.
Articles
Shin Yamada reveals true Celtic transfer inspiration as he makes one promise
Story by Anthony Evans
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/football/shin-yamada-reveals-true-celtic-transfer-inspiration-as-he-makes-one-promise/ar-AA1ITyhW
Yamada will team up with compatriots Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and fellow summer signing Hayato Inamura.
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And while he is also aware of the exploits of former Parkhead hero Kyogo Furuhashi, the 25-year-old is determined to create his own history in the green-and-white.
Speaking to the club’s webiste, he said: “It is a huge honour for me to be here as a Celtic player and I can’t wait to begin my time at this amazing club.
“Celtic is one of the top names in world football. I have already watched my countrymen like Daizen, Reo and Kyogo do so well at Celtic and I will aim to have the same impact.
“I am my own player, though, and I am ready to face all my own challenges directly.
Yamada will team up with compatriots Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and fellow summer signing Hayato Inamura.
And while he is also aware of the exploits of former Parkhead hero Kyogo Furuhashi, the 25-year-old is determined to create his own history in the green-and-white.
Speaking to the club’s webiste, he said: “It is a huge honour for me to be here as a Celtic player and I can’t wait to begin my time at this amazing club.
“Celtic is one of the top names in world football. I have already watched my countrymen like Daizen, Reo and Kyogo do so well at Celtic and I will aim to have the same impact.
“I am my own player, though, and I am ready to face all my own challenges directly.
“I want to do so well at Celtic, I know that Celtic Park is one of the best places in the world to play football with the best supporters around and I will do everything I can to make my new fans proud of me.
“I promise I will give everything I have to bring our fans success.”
Yamada also revealed that he first learned of the transfer interest last year and that he consulted playmaker Hatate on all things Celtic.
“It was around the end of last year. When I joined Kawasaki Frontale, he (Hatate) had already left. So I did not have the chance to meet him face to face.
“However, after there was a rumour of me joining Celtic, I had a call with him. He told me it was a nice club and it was a privilege to play for this club.”
Boss Brendan Rodgers added: “I am really pleased that we have brought Shin to the club. He is a strong player who can score goals and create goals for others and I think he is someone who can definitely add an important dimension to our forward line.
“I know he is really keen to make his mark here in European football and deliver for Celtic and I think he is someone who has the power, athleticism and intensity in his play to do really well for us. I look forward to working with him.”
Why Shin Yamada chose Celtic transfer and ultimate ambition
17th July 2025
Celtic
Celtic transfers
Shin Yamada
Sport
By Mark Walker
New Celtic striker Shin Yamada has revealed he opted to move to the Hoops because his dream is to help Japan win the World Cup.
Celtic have completed the signing of the £1.2 million, 25-year-old from Kawasaki Frontale and he gave his farewells to his Japanese club this week.
He made his international debut for Japan last week in the East Asian E-1 Championship with his nation picking a home-based squad.
And after his final appearance for his club in the Emperor’s Cup match against SC Sagamihara, Yamada revealed why he chose Celtic.
He said: “My ultimate ambition is to play for Japan at the World Cup next year and help us win the trophy.
“And I thought my best chance of having an opportunity of doing that would be to transfer overseas. It was my own decision.
“Playing for this club for the final time was strange because I have felt nothing but warmth and it had become a part of my life for the last two-and-a-half years. It hasn’t really dawned on me yet that it was my last game, but I felt the love from the fans.
“I made my debut for Japan recently and now I am aiming for further growth in my career in my new environment.
“I understand I need to improve my overall game at my new club. I don’t want to set a target for how many goals I will score, but I know I need to score more goals.”
Yamada has managed just two goals in the J League this season, with his last one coming back in March.
Shin Yamada’s encouraging start at Celtic
https://thecelticstar.com/shin-yamadas-encouraging-start-at-celtic/
By Niall J 26 August, 2025 1 Comment
Shin Yamada of Celtic
Shin Yamada of Celtic. Celtic v Livingston, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 23 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace
Shin Yamada, the summer arrival from Kawasaki Frontale, was handed the task of leading the line, and while the match circumstances made it more of a training exercise than a particularly stern test, the Japanese forward offered enough to spark a lively debate among supporters.
As is often the case with new signings at Celtic, opinion has already split into familiar camps. Some have been quick to write Yamada off, focusing on missed chances and his lack of goals in the J-League this year. Others, however, see a player with the technical attributes and intelligence to thrive under Brendan Rodgers.
For those inclined to judge with patience rather than haste, Saturday was encouraging.
What stood out most about Yamada’s display was his movement off the ball. Time and again he made sharp, intelligent runs in behind, often showing small signs of frustration when the ball didn’t come. Dane Murray, and more notably fellow countryman Hayato Inamura, were two players who seemed to spot his intent quickly. If more teammates can get on his wavelength, Yamada could become an outlet Celtic haven’t consistently had through the middle since Kyogo was in his pomp.
He was a constant example of motion, stretching Livingston’s backline, dragging markers around and opening spaces. While the visitors’ rigid two banks of five offered little ambition until they fell behind, Yamada’s willingness to keep moving, probing, and asking questions of the defence was a positive.
His aggression and appetite to demand better service also revealed a striker not content simply to go through the motions. That attitude, coupled with his perpetual movement, bodes well for a player trying to find his feet in a new league.
Of course, no striker can be judged solely on running. Goals do matter, and here Yamada was less convincing.
He saw a first-half header well saved, underhit a good chance when through on goal, and after the interval couldn’t quite adjust his body shape to turn in a cross from Yang – who also seemed on his wavelength. He was also unfortunate to see an offside goal ruled out, which might have done wonders for his confidence.
It is important to remember that Yamada arrives in Glasgow on the back of a goal drought in the J-League, and rediscovering that finishing instinct may take time. But the fundamentals – positioning, anticipation, and movement into good areas – were evident on Saturday. In strikers, that is often the hardest part to teach.
The wider question is probably where Yamada fits within Celtic’s striking options. Daizen Maeda remains Rodgers’ most reliable central forward, his tireless pressing and blistering pace making him an automatic choice in big games. But with Maeda regularly required on the left wing, and with Rodgers already expressing concern about overplaying him, rotation is essential.
Adam Idah brings a track record of scoring in big moments, particularly in big games, yet questions linger about whether his style and technical level truly suit Rodgers’ system. Johnny Kenny, meanwhile, has shown flashes at European Conference League level but still feels more of an impact substitute than a consistent starter at Celtic.
On the evidence so far, Yamada looks a more natural technical fit for Rodgers’ fluid, possession-based system. His ability to drop deep and link play, while not flawless against Livingston, suggested a sharper edge than either Idah or Kenny currently offer.
If Celtic do succeed in strengthening wide positions before the transfer window closes, Maeda could return centrally more often – but in such a scenario, Yamada feels the obvious first-choice back-up, a role that could see him play a significant part across the season.
It would be unfair to make definitive judgments based on one afternoon against a newly promoted side. Yamada is still settling into life at Celtic, adapting to Scottish football, and carrying the burden of expectation that comes with any new striker at the club.
Yet the raw ingredients are there: intelligent running, tireless work rate, technical sharpness, and the bravery to keep putting himself in positions to score. If those attributes are matched by sharper finishing over the coming weeks, Celtic could have found not only a useful squad option, but a player who genuinely pushes Maeda for the starting role.
For now, the jury remains out. But early impressions suggest Celtic fans may be pleasantly surprised by what Shin Yamada brings to Brendan Rodgers’ attack.
Niall J