Soccer

MLS apologises to Celtic over incorrect Kyogo Furuhashi transfer announcement

A story claiming Atlanta United had “acquired” the Celtic striker went up on the MLS website on Wednesday night.

Kyogo Furuhashi has been linked with a move to the United States
Kyogo Furuhashi has been linked with a move to the United States (Andrew Milligan/PA)
By Gavin McCafferty, PA

Major League Soccer has apologised to Celtic and Kyogo Furuhashi after mistakenly claiming the Japanese forward had signed for Atlanta United.

A story claiming Atlanta had “acquired” the Celtic striker went up on the MLS website on Wednesday night but was quickly taken down.

Atlanta, who are managed by former Celtic boss Ronny Deila, themselves announced around the same time they had signed former Japan youth international Cayman Togashi from Sagan Tosu in the J-League.

Atlanta had been linked with a potential move for Furuhashi and reports have since claimed they are still weighing up a move for the 29-year-old, whose Celtic contract runs to 2027.

In a statement issued to the PA news agency, the MLS said: “Major League Soccer’s website mistakenly posted an article that named the wrong player as having signed with an MLS club.

“The article was immediately removed and corrected. MLS extends its sincere apologies to the impacted parties.”

Furuhashi also has a profile on the MLS website containing personal details and statistics around his international career, but so do fellow Japan and Celtic team-mates Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda.

Celtic defender Stephen Welsh earlier completed his loan move to KV Mechelen following a lengthy pursuit by the Belgian Pro League club.

The 24-year-old was allowed to move on for the remainder of the season after making just two appearances this term, taking his Celtic total to 66.

Welsh, whose Celtic contract runs to 2027, said on his new club’s website: “I want to fight my way into the team as soon as possible.

“Mechelen have shown for some time that they would like to have me here.

“In the coming months I want to fight together with the team and the supporters and achieve great results.”

Mechelen sporting director Tim Matthys said: “Finally he is with us. We had already made a number of attempts to bring Stephen here. What did not work then has now been completed.

“Stephen is the reinforcement we needed in the short term. He will give our defensive compartment a solid injection of quality.”

Other fringe players could be on the move from Celtic, with midfielder Odin Thiago Holm linked with a loan move to Los Angeles FC and reports in Spain claim that Rayo Vallecano are close to a deal for winger Luis Palma.