Celtic sign Scunthorpe striker Hooper

Celtic FC manager Neil Lennon has made his sixth summer signing after striker Gary Hooper arrived from English second-tier side Scunthorpe United FC in a €2.8m deal.

Hooper has agreed a four-year deal at Celtic Park, with the 22-year-old the latest addition in a list that includes Joe Ledley, Efraín Juárez, Daryl Murphy, Cha Du-Ri and Charlie Mulgrew. Lennon said: "I was pleased to get him. He has been on our radar a while. I think we have a good player on our hands, his record is very good. It's not just goals, he can play a little bit as well and there were a lot of clubs after his signature."

Having started his career with non-league Grays Athletic FC, Loughton-born Hooper tried his luck at Southend United FC, and spent time on loan with Leyton Orient FC and Hereford United FC. He moved to Scunthorpe in 2008, where he scored 43 goals in 80 league appearances. "When I knew Celtic were interested, they were the only club I wanted to come to," he said.

Celtic, who are also expected to complete the transfer of 22-year-old Israel midfielder Biram Kayal from Maccabi Haifa FC this week, open their UEFA Champions League campaign with a tie against SC Braga in the third qualifying round, playing the first leg in Portugal on Wednesday.