Jota loan transfer AGREED as ex Celtic star’s Al Ittihad nightmare nears end

Jota is set to end his Al-Ittihad hell and sign for French side Rennes on loan.

The former Celtic winger has been looking for a way out of the Saudi Pro League side ever since signing in a mouth-watering £25million deal from the Hoops last summer. That's because they almost instantly left him off their squad registration for league games as they had signed more foreign players than they could fit into their quota and he was the one to be sacrificed.

He did end up being registered for the second part part of the season and ended up scoring four goals in 16 league games as well as one in four Asian Champions League matches. But there has been transfer speculation following him ever since that initial snub with countless clubs linked.

Some of them were in the Premier League with his former Parkhead boss Ange Postecoglou tipped to secure a reunion at Tottenham, and others like West Ham and Newcastle also suggested. Celts were also often mentioned as fans pined for a sensational return so soon after banking the club millions.

But France will be his destination as Fabrizio Romano is reporting a deal has been agreed and will soon be formalised. He said: "Rennes have agreed deal to sign Jota on loan from Al Ittihad, plan confirmed. Formal steps to follow."