Thompson played for Celtic in the Champions League defeat by Braga

Central defender Josh Thompson has become the latest player to leave Celtic after joining Rochdale on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old was signed for Celtic by Tony Mowbray from Stockport County a year ago but has fallen out of favour with new manager Neil Lennon.

And the Glasgow club's boss said: "Josh is on his way to England."

Striker Morten Rasmussen joined Mainz on Thursday and will spend a season in the German Bundesliga.

Defenders Paul Caddis and Darren O'Dea have been farmed out to Swindon and Ipswich, while the versatile Graham Carey has joined Huddersfield and striker Ben Hutchinson has been borrowed by Lincoln.

But Lennon insisted that the moves did not necessarily mean the end to the players' careers with the Scottish Premier League club.

"The whole reason we've let these guys on the periphery of the squad away is because they need to go and play football," said the manager.

"But they're still our players at the end of the day."

Thompson has made 21 first-team appearances for Celtic but has not featured in the club's competitive games this season.

Rochdale, who have started the season with two draws in League One, earlier this month re-signed one their former central defenders, Alan Goodall, on a short-term contract after his release by Chesterfield.

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