Nadir Ciftci has taken the No.7 shirt at Celtic – and insisted that he has what it takes to live up to the iconic number.

It is the number which was worn with distinction by club legends Jimmy Johnstone and Henrik Larsson and the Turk believes he is capable of following in their illustrious footsteps.

Ciftci finally agreed a four-year-deal with Celtic yesterday morning after weeks of wrangling between Celtic and Dundee United and he is keen to make his mark immediately.

“My number will be seven,” he said. “It’s a famous one. It’s a number I’ve won before, and it’s a favourite number of mine, but I know what it means here at this club too.

“I’m delighted to have it. It’s a big number to live up to because I know the players who have worn it before me. It is an honour for me to play with that number just as it was an honour for them to wear it. I wouldn’t say it’s a lucky number for me but it’s a number I like.”

And the striker believes that he is ready now to make the transition from playing with Dundee United to impressing at the very top level with Celtic.

“This is a dream for me,” he said. “This is what you live for as a footballer. You want to go out there and play your game and get a big move. It’s a big club here and this is something I have dreamt about since I was a kid. I had a beautiful two years at Dundee United and I owe them a lot.

“Everyone connected with that club helped me become the player that I am today but now I want to take my career to the next level at this club.”

And Ciftci also thanked former Celt Jackie McNamara for the part he played in developing him in Scotland.

“He told me to work hard,” he said. “He knows me very well after working with me every day for two years. He knows me inside out and he said to just do the things I am good at and show it on the pitch. I’ve learned a lot from him. It was like a family at United and Jackie was almost like a second dad to me. He looked after me very well and every single day he worked with me to try and get me better, which he did.”

Ciftci’s agent, Pierre van Hooijdonk, has also been able to fill the player in on the pressures he will face playing for Celtic.

“He has told me all about what a big club this is but I already knew that even before I came to Scotland,” he said. “I’ve played against them for the past two years so I know they are big and I know more about how big a club it is when I play for them.”