Celtic sign centre-half Hooiveld

Dutchman Hooiveld was Sweden's player of the year in 2009

Celtic have completed the signing of Dutch defender Jos Hooiveld from AIK Stockholm for a fee of about £2m.

The centre-half, Sweden's player of the year in 2009, has signed a three-and-a-half year deal as manager Tony Mowbray seeks to reshape his defence.

The 26-year-old was part of the AIK team that recently won the double in Sweden and can also play in midfield.

Hooiveld told the club's official website: "I'm delighted to sign for a club of Celtic's stature."

And he added: "Celtic has a magnificent history and is a club with great tradition and great supporters.

"Having visited the club and spoken to the manager, I feel this is the right place for me and I am very much looking forward to meeting up with my new team-mates and hopefully playing my part in bringing success to the club and our fans."

Hooiveld has returned to Sweden and will be officially unveiled by Celtic later in the week.

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The 6ft 3in defender toured the facilities at Celtic Park and the club's Lennoxtown training complex but it wasn't his first visit to Scotland.

While on trial at Livingston in 2005, he played a bounce game against St Johnstone but failed to impress.

Hooiveld only played at AIK for a season, and prior to that was at Inter Turku in Finland, Austrian side Kapfenberger and Heerenveen in his native Netherlands.

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray said: "We are very pleased to welcome Jos to Celtic. He is a player who we believe can make an important contribution to the club and someone we look forward to working with."

The player's arrival makes the departure of Gary Caldwell all the more likely. Celtic have accepted a bid from Middlesbrough for the centre-half and midfielder Barry Robson, but the pair have yet to finalise the move.

The Championship side also want Chris Killen and Willo Flood on loan.