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| Celtic win race to sign Pressley | Celtic win race to sign Pressley |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Celtic have won the race to sign Scotland defender Steven Pressley. | Celtic have won the race to sign Scotland defender Steven Pressley. |
| The former Hearts captain, 33, who had also undergone a medical at Charlton, was unveiled at a news conference after signing until May 2008. | The former Hearts captain, 33, who had also undergone a medical at Charlton, was unveiled at a news conference after signing until May 2008. |
| Pressley began his career with Celtic's city rivals, Rangers, but was attracted to the Scottish champions' status. | |
| "I'm passionate about my football, regardless of who I play for, and hopefully that commitment will endear me to the Celtic faithful," he said. | |
| Pressley had held talks with new Charlton manager Alan Pardew on Thursday. | Pressley had held talks with new Charlton manager Alan Pardew on Thursday. |
| But Celtic's need for defensive cover had become more pressing with this week's confirmation that Bobo Balde had suffered a broken leg. Steven has shown over the years that he is an exceptional leader Celtic manager Gordon Strachan | |
| And it was Gordon Strachan who won the signature of a player who had also been linked with Southampton, Derby and Leeds. | |
| Strachan was a team-mate of Pressley's at Coventry and knows his qualities well. | |
| "He has shown over the years that he is an exceptional leader and that is the kind of player we need here," he said. | |
| Pressley had undergone a medical at Charlton on Thursday before making his choice known. | |
| His agent, Blair Morgan, told BBC Sport: "It was a really, really difficult decision. | |
| "He had two fantastic offers from two good clubs. Charlton were really brilliant, but the lure of European football next season won the day." | |
| Scotland international Pressley was a free agent after coming to an agreement to leave Hearts earlier this month following his criticism of majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov. | |
| MY SPORT DEBATE: Your reaction to Pressley's move | MY SPORT DEBATE: Your reaction to Pressley's move |
| Pressley also claimed there was "dressing-room unrest" at the Scottish Premier League club. | Pressley also claimed there was "dressing-room unrest" at the Scottish Premier League club. |
| Pardew, who replaced Les Reed as manager of Charlton on Christmas Eve, had thought there was a "good chance" he could win Pressley's signature but realised there was severe competition. | Pardew, who replaced Les Reed as manager of Charlton on Christmas Eve, had thought there was a "good chance" he could win Pressley's signature but realised there was severe competition. |
| "What I like about him is he is a leader," the Charlton manager had said. | "What I like about him is he is a leader," the Charlton manager had said. |
| "I think we have got some very good centre-halves here, but he comes into a pack where we need characters and leadership and that is one thing that attracts me to him." | "I think we have got some very good centre-halves here, but he comes into a pack where we need characters and leadership and that is one thing that attracts me to him." |
| Pressley is ineligible to play for his new employer before the opening of the transfer window in January. | Pressley is ineligible to play for his new employer before the opening of the transfer window in January. |
| He is also ineligible for Celtic's Champions League campaign this term, having already played for Hearts in the competition. | He is also ineligible for Celtic's Champions League campaign this term, having already played for Hearts in the competition. |