Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has signed for Celtic until June 2007, the Scottish club said on Thursday.

The 34-year-old Irish midfielder left United last month after 12 years at Old Trafford.

"This is a great move for me," Keane told a news conference. "I think it's important that I took my time to make the decision but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

"I enjoy the pressure of playing for a big club and the winning football matches.

"It's a new challenge and a new environment and I'm very happy with my decision."

According to newspaper reports Keane will earn STG40,000 ($A94,173) a week at Celtic, the club he has always supported.

The former Nottingham Forest player was linked with a number of other clubs including Real Madrid, Bolton Wanderers and Everton.

"There has been a lot of speculation over the last few weeks about where I was going and I gave every club a chance and spoke to all the managers," said Keane, who will wear the number 16 shirt at Celtic, just as he did at Manchester United.

"Madrid explained to me they were looking to wait another week or so...but I wanted to make a decision this week and told them and it was very amicable.

Keane refused to look back on his glittering Old Trafford career during which he helped United win seven Premier League titles and four FA Cups.

"I enjoyed my time at United, but it is time to move on," he said. "I wanted a new challenge really.

"I am not coming up here to unwind, far from it, I want the team to do well and I think I can help the club win trophies."

Keane, who joined Manchester United for a then British record transfer fee of STG3.75 million ($A8.83 million) pounds in 1993, said his motivation for joining Celtic was not money.

"It is not a financial move for me, far from it," he said.

"A lot has been written about my age and my injuries. A lot of people think I am 94 but I'm 34. I am hoping to surprise a few people."

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell was delighted with his new signing, who has not played a competitive match since breaking his foot in September.

"A great player has joined a great club," he said. "The reason he is here is his passion for the club."

Manager Gordon Strachan also expressed his satisfaction at recruiting such an experienced player.

"You can't have enough good players in your squad," he said. "He has added quality and a winning mentality."

Celtic are three points ahead of Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premier League table.

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