Director says club have secured Celtic player for next season – “He gives our team a boost”

FC Utrecht have finalised a deal for Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas, who will join on a season-long loan deal.

That’s according to Voetbal International, who say a deal has been done between the two sides for the Greek goalkeeper to spend a season on loan in the Netherlands after he barely played under Ange Postecoglou.

Utrecht were in need of a new goalkeeper after the departure of Eric Oelschlägel, while there were also doubts about Fabian de Keijzer.

They’ve therefore moved to quickly to solve the issue, concluding negotiations with Celtic over a season-long loan deal for Barkas.

He was out of favour at Celtic Park, having managed just two appearances all season for the Hoops, and so they have allowed him to depart, albeit temporarily.

Barkas will now be hoping to establish himself as the undisputed number one and get the game time that wasn’t on offer in Scotland, where he played a minor role at best.

Utrecht are certainly happy to have the Celtic man, with technical director Jordy Zuidam sharing his happiness to the newspaper.

“Vasilis is a big and athletic goalkeeper,” he told them.

“He has good reflexes, rules in the air in the box, stands his ground in one-on-one duels and has charisma.

“Vasilis is also an experienced keeper who has been under the bar at top clubs in Greece and Scotland and has played the necessary international matches with Greece. He gives our team an absolute boost.”