Shin Yamada, born on 30 May 2000 (age 25), is a Japanese striker whose career has so far been shaped far more by Kawasaki Frontale than by anywhere else. Celtic brought him in from Kawasaki in July 2025 for around £1.5m, giving him the No 9 shirt, but his main body of work remains in Japan.
At Kawasaki Frontale, Yamada made 86 league appearances across three seasons and scored 25 league goals. His strongest year came in 2024, when he scored 19 times in 38 league matches – the sort of return that explains why Celtic were willing to take the punt.
His first season after the move was more modest. In 2025–2026, he made eight league appearances for Celtic without scoring, before spending time on loan at Preussen Munster, where he scored three goals in nine league games.
His market value is around £680,000, according to Transfermarkt. At this stage, Yamada’s career is still best read as a productive Kawasaki spell followed by an unsettled attempt to establish himself in Europe.
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