Renowned for his talents in midfield, Reo Hatate heralds from Japan, where he honed his skills before making a considerable impression on Scotland's top-flight football, playing centrally for Celtic. Born on the 21st of November 1997, the 27-year-old stands modestly at 5 ft 7 (170.18 cm) inches and weighs in at 11 stones (70 kg). Beetling about the pitch in Celtic's coveted number 41 jersey, Hatate brings consistency and quality to the fore.
His market value, as stated on Transfermarkt, solidly sits at around £9.5m and his contract with Celtic is laid out until the 31st of May, 2028, offering a solid three years and four months further commitment.
Leaving a trail of noteworthy performances and appreciation, Hatate was initiated into professional level football with the J1 League outfit, Kawasaki Frontale in August, 2018. He made one first-team debut during the 2019 season, graduating to make 31 appearances and score five goals in the 2020 season, and again during the 2021 season with 30 first-team appearances and five goals.
January 2022 marked a significant transition for the promising midfielder as he moved from the J1 League, Japan to the Premiership in Scotland. Celtic acquired him for approximately £1.4m. In his maiden season (2021-2022) on the Scottish turf, he made 17 first-team appearances and netted four goals. The 2022-2023 season saw an increase in appearances to 32, with six goals to his credit. His form continued into the 2023-2024 season, durin which he took the field in 16 first-team appearances with three goals. Currently, in the 2024-2025 season, Hatate has made a significant contribution with 26 first-team appearances and six goals.
His command over the midfield and ability to be a game-changer was not just limited to the league matches but also extended to Celtic's Champions League campaigns. During the 2023-2024 season, he started three times, and in the ongoing 2024-2025 season, he has scored one goal in nine starts, also featuring as a substitute. Hatate has also taken part in the League Cup 2024-2025 and the Scottish Cup 2024-2025, with four and one starts respectively.
