Reo Hatate, a central midfielder hailing from Japan, was born on 21 November 1997, making him 27 years of age. Measuring at 1.71m (5ft 7in), and weighing in at 70kg (11st), Hatate commands his position, embodying the style and spirit of Celtic Football Club, donning the number 41 jersey. Apart from his club duties, Hatate has also served his home country as part of the national Japanese football team.
In today's market, Hatate boasts a value of around €11.00m (£9.5m), as per Transfermarkt. His contract with Celtic extends till 31 May 2028, providing fans assurance of his continued contribution to the team in the years to come.
Hatate's journey in professional football practice started in earnest with Kawasaki Frontale in the J1 League, Japan, as of August, 2018. His debut season in 2019 marked the commencement of this endeavour, wherein he made his single appearance for the first team in league matches. The years 2020 and 2021 saw an exponential increase in Hatate's league involvement, with 31 and 30 appearances respectively, scoring five goals in each season.
As 2022 dawned, Hatate transferred from Kawasaki Frontale to Celtic – a move that cost the Scottish Premiership club around £1.4m. His first season with Celtic in 2021 - 2022 saw him make 17 first team appearances, finding the back of the net on four occasions. Hatate's presence grew more prominent over the following seasons from 2022 - 2024, with regular appearances and an impressive scoring record. In the current season of 2024 - 2025, Hatate is demonstrating commendable form in his 37 appearances to date, establishing himself as an integral figure within the team, as well as a reliable scorer, with an impressive tally of ten goals.
The Scottish domestic scene is not the only stage where Hatate has shone; the midfielder has also had his taste of international club competition in the Champions League. With three starts in the 2023 - 2024 tournament and nine in the 2024 - 2025 season (which also included a goal), Hatate demonstrated his ability and versatility on the larger stage. Apart from this, he has been a part of Scotland's campaign in the Scottish Cup 2024 - 2025, and represented Japan in the World Cup Qualifiers Asia 2024 - 2026.
As the 2025 - 2026 season approaches, Celtic supporters can rest assured knowing that Hatate will be there, ever-ready to don the club's colours and give his all on the pitch.
