Hinkel Seals Celtic Move

By: JT | January 4th, 2008

German international right-back Andreas Hinkel’s protracted transfer saga from La Liga side Sevilla has finally ended. After fending off interest from mid-table Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg, Hinkel chose to sign a three and a half year contract with the Bhoys. The transfer fee was estimated to be around £1.9m.

Since joining Sevilla in the summer of 2006 from VfB Stuttgart under the impression that Sevilla’s beast of a right back Dani Alves was preparing to move on, times have been tough for the big German. Alves is still with Los Rojiblancos, and Hinkel has been riding the pine, making only 15 appearances.

At the time of his move Hinkel had 17 international caps and his future looked extremely bright. The move to Celtic gives him a chance to resurrect his career, both for club and country.

Celtic have been forced to use Gary Caldwell, a natural central defender, at right back since Mark Wilson and Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe went down with long term injuries.

It may take some time for Hinkel to get match fit, but with Caldwell back in the mix in the center, competition for places will be increased. Celtic’s best defender in recent matches, Bobo Balde, is headed for the African Cup of Nations, so the need to get Caldwell back in the middle is immediate.

Says the newest Celt, “It’s a great honour to join the club and I hope to play an important part in the club’s future over the next few years.

Celtic is a great club with a great history, having achieved such success at home and in Europe.

Having already played against Celtic in European competition, I am well aware of the magnificent stadium and wonderful passionate support which the club enjoys.”

Signing a player with the pedigree and desire to prove himself again like Andreas Hinkel can result in great things. He’s young, experienced (though not lately), and looking to fight his way back into his national team.

He fills an immediate need for the club, so in the short term this is an excellent signing. How he copes with Scottish football on a weekly basis is another story, but there is no reason at all to think that he won’t be a rock on the right flank for the next few seasons.