Celtic have signed Toulouse centre-back Christopher Jullien on a four-year contract, the club have confirmed.

The 26-year-old had been on the club’s radar for a number of months before they made an €8m (£7m) offer to secure the defender’s services.

La Liga side Celta Vigo are understood to have made a late bid to hijack the deal for Jullien but Celtic have managed to get their man.

The Frenchman is a much-needed addition with Kristoffer Ajer and Jozo Simunovic the only other recognised centre-halves in the squad.

Dedryck Boyata is leaving to join Hertha Berlin when his contract expires at the end of this month, while Felip Benkovic has returned to Leicester after his loan spell.

Jullien is a commanding centre-back at 6ft 5in tall and has had spells with Freiburg in Germany as well as a loan spell with Dijon in France’s second division.

He has spent the last three seasons as a first-team regular for Toulouse, playing in Ligue One.