Celtic: Amido Balde released to join Metz

Balde scored three times for Celtic

Striker Amido Balde has signed a two-year deal with French second-tier club Metz after being released by Celtic.

The 24-year-old former Portugal Under-20 international joined Celtic in 2013 for £1.8m from Vitoria Guimaraes.

But he made only 23 appearances - just three of them starts - for the Scottish champions.

Last season, he had loan spells with Waasland-Beveren in Belgium and Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel and did not figure in Celtic manager Ronny Deila's plans.

Balde, who scored three goals for Celtic, scored once in 14 appearances for Waasland-Beveren and failed to find the net for Hapoel in nine games.

Despite his contract with Celtic running until 2017, Balde has been allowed to move to Metz, who were relegated from the French top flight last season.