Celtic complete Toure signing

Scottish champions Celtic have completed the signing of Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure on a one-year deal.

The Bhoys' manager Brendan Rodgers says Toure's experience in European football was a crucial factor in his decision to bring the 35-year-old to Celtic Park.

Toure was released by Liverpool at the end of last season, with his final match the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla in May. The former Arsenal and Manchester City defender has played 83 times in Europe since the start of his career in English football in 2002.

Toure was a member of the Arsenal "Invincibles" squad that went through the 2003-04 Premier League season unbeaten.

He won a second league title with Manchester City in 2012, before joining Rodgers at Liverpool in 2013..

"With a lot of young players in our squad, he can really help them and he can be of great assistance for [captain] Scott Brown, who is a wonderful leader but he needs support and help around him as well," Rodgers said.

"It will be nice for Scott to have someone behind him, who has that real big-game experience."

However, Rodgers says Toure is unlikely to feature in Wednesday's Champions League qualifier against FC Astana.

The deadline for signings ahead of the third qualifying round was on Thursday, but clubs are allowed one "wildcard" signing up to 24 hours before kick-off.

"I would think Wednesday would be too soon," he said.

"We will probably look towards the weekend and give him game time against Barcelona [in the International Champions Cup pre-season match at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday] and assess where he is at."