Celtic have signed the Republic of Ireland defender Shane Duffy on a season-long loan from Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion.

The 28-year-old is currently on duty with the Republic of Ireland in Bulgaria, and likely to start the opening game of the Stephen Kenny era in the Nations League on Thursday.

Derry native Duffy has made 130 appearances for the Seagulls after spells at Everton and Blackburn Rovers.

He is excited to join the Glasgow club:

"I really am delighted to sign this deal with Celtic. It's a huge honour for me to join Celtic, such a huge institution and a brilliant football club that I have always loved and admired.

"It will be a fantastic personal moment for me when I pull on the Celtic jersey. It's just a great feeling. I could not be happier to be part of the club now and I just can't wait to start working with the manager, the staff and the players when I return from international duty with Ireland.

"We will be challenging on a lot of fronts this season and I am really excited about getting going, as we try and bring the fans more and more success."

Celtic boss Neil Lennon added:

"We are delighted to bring a player of Shane's quality to Celtic. He is an international player with so many great attributes. He's a leader and he's a warrior, someone with real ability and who will also give us that great physical presence. I know too that he is a player who will add great personality to the dressing room. This is a real coup for the club. From the off, Shane wanted to come to Celtic and we are delighted to have been able to fend off English Premier League interest."

Duffy… 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 ✅🙌

📝 @FAIreland international defender, Shane Duffy has joined #CelticFC on a season-long loan! 🇮🇪

Welcome, @shaneduffy! 🤩💚

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 2, 2020