Fernández joins Scottish champions

Scottish Premier League champions Celtic FC have secured the €1.6m signing of Livingston FC striker David Fernández.

Four-year deal
The 26-year-old Spaniard has signed a four-year deal with the Scottish champions and admitted the chance to play in the UEFA Champions League next season convinced him to put pen-to-paper on a Parkhead contract without waiting to see what other offers came his way.

'An amazing chance'
He said: "It's hard to express my feelings. This is the best team in Scotland, and there will be the opportunity there to play in the Champions League next season. This is an amazing chance for me because I've never played in the Champions League before."

O'Neill target
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill had been tracking the former RC Deportivo La Coruña player since he arrived in Scotland two years ago to sign for the now defunct Airdrieonians FC.

Dramatic impact
Aidrie's financial woes forced Fernandez to leave the club after just eight months and he was snapped up by Livingston in March 2001. Fernandez made a dramatic impact at Livingston helping his new team win promotion and then steering them to third in the Premier League and a prized place in the UEFA Cup

Vacant role
Veteran Lubo Moravcik left Celtic last month and it is understood that Fernandez - with his bustling style and skill on the ball - may now be asked to fill the role left vacant by the mercurial Slovakian.

Wheeler-dealer
O'Neill has earned the reputation of being a shrewd wheeler-dealer in the transfer market and having beaten off rivals from England and Italy for the signature of Fernandez, he hopes the striker can be another success story to match signings such as Chris Sutton, Bobo Balde, Joos Valgaeren and John Hartson.

'Great signing'
"David is a player with tremendous ability and I believe he will be a great signing for the club. We have major challenges ahead on the domestic and European fronts and, in facing these, David will be very important to Celtic," said O'Neill.

Champions League target
Celtic retained the league crown in April and have now set their sights on reaching the second group stage of the Champions League in 2002/03 having been knocked out at the first group phase last season in a tightly-fought group featuring Juventus FC, FC Porto and Rosenborg BK.