McDonald departs as Celtic sign Kamara and Keane

Australia striker Scott McDonald’s successful Celtic career came to an end on Monday as he joined English Championship side Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee in a transfer deadline day move.

His departure from the Glasgow giants came as Ireland captain Robbie Keane and Senegal striker Diomansy Kamara both moved to Parkhead in loan deals from, respectively, Tottenham and Fulham.

McDonald, currently sidelined by a hernia injury, scored 50 goals in 88 league appearances for Celtic after joining the club before the start of the 2007-08 season.

He became the fifth player Boro’s former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan has signed from his old club, following Barrry Robson, Willo Flood, Chris Killen and Stephen McManus. Strachan further expanded his Scottish colony on Monday by signing Aberdeen forward Lee Miller.

Celtic, who appear to have been concentrating on reducing their wage bill, also tied up a deal to take Dutch international left-back Edson Braafheid, 26, on loan from Bayern Munich in order to fill the gap created by Danny Fox’s move to Burnley.

Kamara, 29, has scored three goals this season in 13 appearances for Fulham, five of which came as a substitute. He told Celtic’s website that he was looking to make the loan move permanent.

“Celtic is a magnificent football club,” said Kamara, capped over 40 times by Senegal. “I will be looking to do my very best to contribute and bring the supporters success and hopefully enjoy a long future with the club.”

Fox admitted that finance more than football was behind his move south of the border.

“I was called into the Scotland squad so I could not have been doing too bad. I also played in the Champions League, which I enjoyed,” he said.

“I think with the way Scottish football is going at the moment, financial reasons and stuff like that, Celtic were maybe offered a lot more money than they paid for me.

“It was an opportunity I couldn’t really turn down myself. Players from all over the world want to come and play in the (English) Premier League.”

Celtic also signed Motherwell winger Paul Slane for an undisclosed fee.

Kilmarnock, who entertain Celtic in a league match on Tuesday, signed Watford duo Scott Severin and Rob Kiernan and Aberdeen striker Chris Maguire on loan until the end of the season.

Aberdeen meanwhile signed Plymouth pair Steven MacLean, a striker, and Jim Paterson, a left-sided defender/midfielder on loan until the end of the season.

Dons boss Mark McGhee said he hoped McLean would plug the gap created by Miller’s departure.

“We need somebody – particularly now that Lee has gone – to link the play, to be a centre-forward that can hold the ball up for us. Steven MacLean’s a boy that can take it in, and he’s got a good goalscoring record.”

Both players go straight into the squad for Tuesday’s SPL match against Falkirk.