According to reports, Yuki Kobayashi declined a loan move to HJK Helsinki.

The defender is now the sixth-choice central defender in the NFL despite having played no professional football this season.

He signed a five-year contract with Celtic after his Vissel Kobe contract expired at the end of 2022, with the loan deal for Moritz Jenz being canceled.

Kobayashi had the opportunity to make an impression once it was decided to have Cameron Carter-Vickers have knee surgery at the end of April, but his Celtic career appears to have come to an end after just six games due to crushing losses at Ibrox and Easter Road.

Football Scotland reported on Monday:

Football Scotland is aware that HJK Helsinki made an effort to sign Yuki Kobayashi on loan from Celtic.

The MLS and his own country were considered to be the likely destinations for the Japanese defender, who appeared destined to be one of the fringe players let go during the January transfer window. However, it has since come to light that the Finnish team, to whom the Hoops had previously loaned Conor Hazard, were interested in him.

However, it never got any farther, and Kobayashi is still in Parkhead. Helsinki may reconsider their interest in the 23-year-old, as the Finnish transfer window is open until the end of the next month.

It seems that Kobayashi is waiting for a transfer to the United States rather than the Finnish League, as the MLS transfer market is open until April.

The 23-year-old’s Celtic career appears to be ended after being passed over by Brendan Rodgers and Postecoglou, but what comes next is still up in the air since the player has a contract with the team that expires in May 2028.

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