South Korea midfielder Ki Sung Yueng has signed a four-year contract with Celtic, the club have confirmed on their website.He will join the Parkhead club on January 1, 2010, in a deal reportedly worth €2.1million.

Ki, 20, was granted the required work permit on Friday and is expected to meet the Celtic squad towards the end of December.

The player has recently been named the Asian young player of the year and has made 17 international appearances, playing in every game in South Korea’s World Cup qualifying campaign on route to South Africa 2010.

The former FC Seoul playmaker told www.celticfc.net: “I am absolutely delighted to sign for Celtic, a football club with a tremendous history and one which is known throughout the world.

“I know that Celtic has some of the best supporters in the world and I will be doing all I can to show these fans what I can do and give everything as part of a team which will aim to achieve more and more success.

“When I lived in Australia, my football coach there was a Celtic supporter and through him I really became interested in the club.

“It is now a dream come true for me to join this great club — already, Celtic has shown me a tremendous welcome and I really do now feel part of the Celtic family.

“I look forward to teaming up with my new manager and team-mates and I will be working hard towards achieving all I can for Celtic.”

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray added: “We are very pleased to announce the signing of Ki and we are sure he is a player who has the potential to make an impact at Celtic.

“We have watched the player in action already and believe that he has some real qualities.

“He is a young man, but someone who we believe has the ability and character to do well for the club.

“We will be doing all we can to ensure that he can fulfil his potential at Celtic.”