Celtic sign Danish international defender Sviatchenko

Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic have signed Denmark defender Erik Sviatchenko from Danish champions FC Midtjylland, the Glasgow club said on Sunday.

Sviatchenko, who has four caps and scored against France in a friendly last October, has signed a four and a half year deal, Celtic said on their website.

“It means so much to me to join a winning club, to join a club that goes for and wins trophies and wants to play in the Champions League,” Sviatchenko, 24, said.

“I have had a taste of winning with Midtjylland and I want more of this feeling at Celtic. When you play football, you want to be remembered for winning and I want to be remembered as a winner with Celtic.”

Celtic have been Scottish champions for the past four seasons and top the standings on 49 points from 21 matches, three points ahead of Aberdeen.

Meanwhile in the English Premier League, Francesco Guidolin is set to be named as the new Swansea head coach before Monday night’s league clash with Watford, according to reports.

The former Udinese boss will work alongside Alan Curtis, who had been named as the permanent successor to the sacked Garry Monk as recently as last week.

Swansea’s slide into the bottom three has prompted a swift U-turn by club bosses, who will hand Guidolin a short-term contract with a view to an extension if the appointment is successful.

Guidolin is expected to take a watching brief at the match on Monday before taking an official role for the first time in next Sunday’s Premier League trip to Everton.