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Why today is Celtic's true Deadline Day as six signings expected in Glasgow
Updated: 2 Sep 2026 04:56 CDT |
5 min read
News
The transfer window may be closed for the majority of the elite leagues in Europe but clubs in Scotland have until Thursday to add to their squads.
The transfer deadline for teams in the Scottish Premiership is Thursday 3 September at 17:00 BST.
The window in Scotland has traditionally closed after the Premier League. One reason for that is that teams look to take advantage of the bloated squads south of the border to try and get a cheap transfer in or possibly a loan deal.
For Celtic, however, their true deadline comes one day earlier, on Wednesday 2 September.
That is because the registration deadline for clubs in the Europa League is just before midnight on that date. Any player that the club signs after that time would not be eligible to play in Europe.
✍️🇩🇰 Oliver Sørensen has become the latest player to arrive at Celtic, with the Danish midfielder joining the Scottish Champions on a season-long loan from Parma, with an option to buy, subject to international clearance.
Welcome, Oliver 💚#VelkommenOliver | #CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/iFSzB4Dgpd— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 1, 2026
Celtic find themselves in the Europa League this season after a cataclysmic capitulation in their Champions League playoff tie against Austrian side LASK. They won the first leg 3-0 and even went a goal up in the second leg, but somehow managed to lose 5-4 on aggregate.
The promises of lavish spending if Champions League qualification was secured evaporated and the Hoops suddenly found themselves shopping in a different market.
Having said that, they will be extremely active before the deadline and are lining up as many as SIX new signings to go into the Europa League squad. Reo Hatate and Johnny Kenny made some space after being sold to Burnley and Preston on Deadline Day.
So, who are Celtic looking to bring in?
Sam Johnstone - GK
Despite knowing for months that Kasper Schmeichel would need to be replaced this summer, Celtic are scrambling in the last few days of the window to sign not even a replacement in terms of quality, but simply someone to give them numbers in the goalkeeping department.
At the moment, they have the unconvincing Viljami Sinisalo and Ross Doohan and added to that mix will be Sam Johnstone, who has fallen down to fourth in the pecking order at Wolves.
He's on his way on loan.
Jordan Lotomba - RB
Celtic should have been more prepared to sign a right-back than they have been as Alistair Johnston seemed destined to leave this summer, with Everton holding a concrete interest.
In the end, Johnston got injured and didn't make the move, but a right-back was still needed regardless and they will sign Feyenoord's Jordan Lotomba.
He's in the final year of his contract in Rotterdam and isn't likely to cost much.
Landon Emenalo - LB
Kieran Tierney rarely finishes a game these days so it was imperative that Celtic brought in cover at left-back.
They very easily could have signed Marcelo Saracchi on a permanent basis after his successful loan deal last season but the club opted against it, while some fans have been campaigning for Dundee United full-back Will Ferry to be signed.
The supporters will have to be content with another loan, as Chelsea youngster Landon Emenalo is on his way.
Gvidas Gineitis - CM
Gvidas Gineitis was one of the players that Celtic were targeting on the condition that they qualified for the Champions League. As it turns out, they could have signed him ages ago to actually feature in that playoff as they plan on bringing him in anyway despite the Europa League berth.
Although not apparently the defensive midfielder the team desperately needs, he will provide physicality and height in there.
He will cost about €10.5m which is by far the biggest outlay the club will make on Wednesday and the second biggest in the window overall after buying Kasper Hogh.
Joel van den Berg
Celtic have clearly identified midfield as a problem area as when the window closes they will have signed three central midfielders close to the deadline. On Tuesday, they signed Oliver Sorensen from Parma and will likely follow that up with Gineitis plus exciting Dutch talent Joel van den Berg.
The 19-year-old PSV wonderkid arrives at Celtic Park with a positive reputation and has the pedigree to emerge as a success.
One issue could be playing time as there is suddenly a raft of players fighting for midfield minutes at Celtic Park, with Callum McGregor, Benjamin Nygren, Mika Baur, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Luke McCowan already around plus the new signings.
Van den Berg will cost €4m.
Shim Mheuka - CF
After being extremely light in the centre-forward position last year, Celtic now have a lot of quality up there through Hogh, Camilo Duran and Callum Osman.
However, Osman left the stadium on crutches following the win against Falkirk at the weekend so they have turned to Chelsea youngster Shim Mheuka to add more firepower to that frontline.
It remains to be seen how much he will play in this loan deal but he is a hugely exciting prospect and was named Premier League 2 Player of the Season for 2025/26.
