Celtic’s transfer activity in the summer 2026 transfer window so far has been characterised, numerically at least, by the number of players leaving the club rather than new arrivals…
The 5IAR Scottish Champions so far have added two new signings, or three if you include bringing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back for another season after his loan spell earlier in the year.
The two signings, Camilo Duran from Qarabag and Kasper Hogh from Bodo/Glimt, certainly add major firepower and undoubted quality to the Celtic attack and will supply CoolTV with plenty of magical goalscoring exploits in the Hoops over the new season and beyond. Both strikers arrive at Celtic having notable records in scoring in the Champions League last season.
Celtic has invested around £16m in the pair who are on long term deals and the plan will be to build the team around these two formidable goal-scorers as the overall size of the Celtic squad decreases.
The later aspect of that plan seems to be well underway and there’s likely to be more exits on the way, some for big money transfers like Arne Engels who has many admirers and could be some for around £25m this summer, with the cash being used to secure further quality additions.
With Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh being the only two additions so far to the Celtic first team squad the number of exits from last season currently stands at 14. Here’s a breakdown on who has left Celtic this summer.
Goolkeepers
The veteran Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel retired due to a serious shoulder injury with Martin O’Neill still on the look-out for a suitable replacement to join Viljami Sinisalo and Ross Doohan as the three keepers that the club always requires. Expect a new signing shortly.
Defence
Celtic currently has five fewer defenders after a handful of exits this summer. Maik Nawrocki has been sold to French side Lens who will be in the Champions League this season. Nawrocki had a successful loan spell in Germany last season but was never able to convince a number of Celtic managers of his worth. Celtic picked up around £2.5m for the transfer.
Celtic Academy graduate Steven Welsh, a former Scotland U21 captain, had had various loans away from Celtic, most recently at Motherwell last season where he was outstanding. Returning to Celtic this summer, and not in Martin O’Neill’s plans, the club agreed to rip up his contract to allow him to join Championship club Swansea Town on as a free agent. He’ll be a stand-out for the Welsh side next season.
Hayato Inamura, a club signing, was a project buy who according to former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, was not at the level to play for the club. A permanent transfer after a loan spell with FC Tokyo was the best outcome for all parties, with Celtic making £1m from the £1.25m transfer fee.
Marcello Saracchi spent last season on loan at Celtic from Boca Juniors and was very much a fans favourite, providing an outstanding contribution as covering left-back for Kieran Tierney. Martin O’Neill spoke publicly about his wish to bring the player back but the club had other ideas and no offer was made, despite the player being desperate to return.
It looks like Saracchi will end up playing in the MLS while Celtic still window shop for a replacement. The smart money is a loan move back to Celtic for Greg Taylor, who has fallen out of favour at Greek outfit PAOK after just one season at the club.
Benjamin Arthur returned to parent club Brentford at the end of the season after a season-long loan. This week Celtic bit around £7m to bring the central defender back to Parkhead on a permanent basis but the Premier League club knocked this back as they see Athur as part of their long term plans. Another loan spell could suit all parties.
Julian Araujo arrived on loan in January as right-back cover for the injured Alistair Johnston. The Mexican international, like Saracchi, was hugely popular and scored a dramatic 97th winner at Rugby park against Kilmarnock as well as starring in matches against the Rangers. Injury ended his season early but he’s fully fit now and currently training back at parent club Bournemouth.
Alistair Johnston returned at the end of the campaign to push Celtic on to a league and cup double before having an outstanding World Cup with co-hosts Canada. Johnston could be on the move from Celtic this summer with Araujo tipped as his replacement.
Midfield
Nothing has changed so far in midfield for Celtic other than Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain leaving after his loan only to be brought back at the managers request. We expect that to change with the likes of Engels and also Reo Hatate leaving the club this summer. More has happened in terms of squad rotation in the Celtic attacking areas.
Forwards
Luis Palma spent last season on loan at Lech Poznan where he became a talismanic figure. The Honduran winger competed his transfer to the Polish side for £3.5m early in the transfer window.
Shin Yamada, like Inamura, was a summer 2025 club signing with the can kicked down the road on that one with a season log loan move to Belgian side OH Leuven. Again Brendan Rodgers was correct to file Yamada under not at the required level.
Kelechi Iheanacho was good enough but never fit enough. He did play a huge role as an impact player from the bench, particularly at the business end of the season. Martin O’Neill did want to retain his services but in the end Celtic’s realistic assessment in terms of salary were below what the Nigerian striker wanted and he opted for a move to the second tier in Turkish football.
In January Celtic sacked Wilfried Nancy after a dismal short period in charge and that meant Martin O’Neill had to come back for a second spell in the same season as Celtic manager.
With no homework having been done Celtic brought in three loans, who continued next to nothing collectively, and all left Celtic at the end of the season. Tomas Cvancara scored a few goals, including the decisive penalty in the Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox, Junior Adamu’s goal against Dundee in the last minute of the previous round got Celtic through to take on the Rangers, while Joel Mvuka was frankly hopeless.
That just leaves Daizen Maeda who last weekend concluded his £10m move to Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town after a sensation four and a half years in Glasgow where he won the major honours and five straight titles at Celtic.
Daizen is simply irreplaceable and he goes to fulfil his dream of playing in the Premier League will the best wishes of the entire Celtic support. Ipswich reckon that they have signed a good player but they haven’t. Instead they’ve got a one of a kind magnificent, pressing machine who will rattle every defence in the Premier League and will probably keep the Championship winners up almost single handedly.
1 Comment
Of course your assessment is correct, but I wouldn’t look at the present in quite the same way, all the same?
Still think MoN, will be looking to have a full 25man European squad in operation this coming season, with the extra 3 B listed players in Donovan, Hatton and Mcardle, to boost squad depth imo?
Apart from signing Hogh and Duran, along with the OX. We also have a returning CCV and Osmand, with hopefully jota in the not to distant future also?
So would already consider our squad as having some fair amount of change already, to the one that completed last season imo?
Stronger CB partnership, and more and better striker options, is a decent position to already be in imo?
Of course we aren’t finished by any means whatsoever?
The keeper position has to be addressed still, but looking more likely to be a backup for Sinisalo?
Still 1 short in our homegrown requirements within our 25man European squad?
Still make Taylor favourite for that position, and hardly spoilt for choice either. So if its the LB position, then so be it imo?
Still need another wide option incoming, and wouldn’t totally rule out a potential loan signing also, with the uncertainty surrounding jota either?
Still class the midfield areas of our greatest concern at present?
Wouldn’t say that it functioned anywhere near its capabilities, for the quality factor that was in existence last season imo?
Engels is by far the best partnerships for calmac in the centre of the park, especially as Hatate and Paulo, seemed to have already checked out of our club?
Haven’t got any issues, if the OX is going to be regarded as helping out calmac, moreso with playing time, even if he is still catching up upon match fitness currently?
So potentially, leaves 2 midfield positional roles to still fill imo?
Baur seems to have been identified as filling 1, and still believe that the deal will eventually get concluded?
Still leaves another position potentially available, and could well include a bigger and more physical midfielder added imo?
So overall at present, i would class our club, as having a 23 man provision squad in place at present, with 3 backup B listed players also?
A keeper and LB, would complete that provision squad, but wouldn’t class it as a finalised 25man European squad whatsoever?
Still a decision awaits as to whether MoN, actually wants 5CB within it?
Especially with the injury concerns of both CCV and Murray to consider?
Believe Paulo and Balikwisha will both be loaned out eventually, so 2 more to provide far more than what both provided last season.
And then there is the decision upon whether MoN leaves a position open for Jota, within a 25man European squad?
Especially with the prospect of him becoming available for the last 4 games of the league phase, of hopefully a CL campaign?
So even now, with the season about to start, MoN is still facing a number of decisions, especially with a CL qualification game looming?
The time frame certainly doesn’t suit ourselves, with the levels of uncertainty within the decision making required?
But still have confidence within MoN in going about it, in the right manner also?
Still say, by the time MoN finishes his overall squad, he will still have far more players he can really trust, than he had available last season?
Along with a higher quality factor, with what players are producing, should hopefully bring about a far more exciting brand of football, getting produced as a result imo?