Juarez agrees Celtic switch

Mexico international Efrain Juarez has agreed a four-year contract with Celtic and met up with his new team-mates in the United States on Saturday.

The 22-year-old will undergo a medical as Celtic officials finalise the documentation surrounding his transfer from Pumas.

The versatile player, who represented his country during the World Cup, has already been granted a work permit by the UK Government.

Juarez will become Neil Lennon's fifth summer signing when he completes the formalities of his move, following the captures of full-backs Charlie Mulgrew and Cha Du-Ri, midfielder Joe Ledley and striker Daryl Murphy.

The transfer was reported to be costing Celtic up to £4million but manager Lennon has previously revealed that the club are not paying "massive money" for the player.Juarez featured at full-back during three of his country's four games at the World Cup, but he can also play in a holding midfield role.

He spent several years at Barcelona as a teenager after helping Mexico win the Under-17 World Cup, but failed to break into the first team and returned to his homeland, but he quickly flourished at Pumas and was part of the Mexico team that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup last year.

Lennon spoke enthusiastically about his prospective signing earlier in the week.

"He's got great energy, is really comfortable on the ball and works really hard off the ball," Lennon said. "He's a very fit lad and I think his style will suit us. He's a hardy little guy as well - he can put his foot in.

"I saw Juarez playing against England at Wembley before the World Cup and just kept an eye on him.

"I thought he looked decent there and in the World Cup and, when the opportunity came up, we watched him again and again and asked if he would fit in to what we wanted to do here. We all agreed that he would."