Celtic sign Mexico defender Juarez

Scottish club Celtic signed Mexico defender Efrain Juarez from UNAM Pumas for an undisclosed fee on Monday.

Juarez agreed a four-year contract with the Hoops after impressing manager Neil Lennon during the World Cup.

“Celtic are delighted to announce that they have completed the signing of Mexican internationalist Efrain Juarez, who joins the club on a four-year deal,” a statement on the club’s website confirmed.

The 22-year-old, who played three times in South Africa, is Lennon’s fifth signing as he overhauls the squad that underachieved last season.

Lennon had already swooped for Charlie Mulgrew, Cha Du-Ri, Joe Ledley and Daryl Murphy and several of those stars should feature in the Champions League qualifier against Portuguese side Sporting Braga on Wednesday.

There are likely to be more new arrivals at Celtic before the start of the Scottish Premier League season.

Portsmouth’s England goalkeeper David James is believed to be heading to Glasgow for talks with Lennon, while Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper and Maccabi Haifa playmaker Biram Kayal are also close to joining the club.

Hooper, who has scored 50 goals for Scunthorpe in the last two seasons, was reported to have met Celtic officials on Monday to finalise personal terms ahead of a medical.

The 22-year-old could come into contention for the Braga clash as Celtic, who have already registered Juarez, are able to add one player to their Champions League squad for the match in Portugal up to 24 hours before kick-off.