As Celtic prepare to raise the champions’ flag at Parkhead for their Scottish Premiership title defence against St Mirren on Sunday, manager Brendan Rodgers has acknowledged that the club still has “work to do” in the transfer market. With the new season looming, the Hoops are eager to strengthen their squad to maintain their domestic dominance and make a stronger impact in the UEFA Champions League. Rodgers, however, remains optimistic, hinting at potential new signings “this week” to bolster the team’s depth and quality.
The Window so far
Celtic have already been active in the transfer window, securing six new players this summer, including the high-profile return of former star Kieran Tierney on a free transfer from Arsenal and Sweden midfielder Benjamin Nygren. Other additions include goalkeeper Ross Doohan, forwards Callum Osmand and Shin Yamada, and defender Hayato Inamura. However, with half of these signings being free transfers and some, like Inamura and Osmand, viewed as long-term projects, questions linger about whether the board has provided sufficient backing for Rodgers’ ambitions. The departure of key players such as winger Nicolas Kuhn to Como, left-back Greg Taylor to PAOK, and star striker Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes in January for £10 million has left noticeable gaps in the squad.
Kieran Tierney is back at Celtic! ✍️✅
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) June 10, 2025
Watch some of his best bits from his first spell at the club ⚽️#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/mTU7YVysvC
The Need of Signings
Rodgers has been vocal about the need for “freshness” in the squad, emphasizing the importance of resetting competition within the team to guard against complacency. “We’re not needing a major overhaul of the squad, but freshness is so important,” Rodgers told club media. “Some of these guys have been here a long time. It’s so important, even in a winning squad, that you refresh that and reset the competition in the squad.” The manager’s comments come on the heels of a mixed pre-season, highlighted by a humbling 5-1 defeat to Ajax in the Como Cup semi-final, which exposed vulnerabilities in the squad, particularly in attack following Kyogo’s exit.
🗣️ “We hope this week there might be some news on that…”
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) July 30, 2025
🗣️ “We’ve lost key players & we want to replace those as quick as we can”
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers on potential new signings ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/pAfyfiNfpq
One area of focus is the pursuit of a new striker to replace Kyogo, whose 85 goals since joining in 2021 made him a cornerstone of Celtic’s attack. The club currently relies on Adam Idah as their sole senior centre-forward, with 21-year-old Johnny Kenny, recently back from a loan at Shamrock Rovers, and the versatile Daizen Maeda as backups. Maeda, however, is suspended for the first leg of Celtic’s upcoming Champions League play-off against Bayern Munich, underscoring the urgency for reinforcements. Rodgers admitted disappointment in the January window for failing to secure a replacement for Kyogo, stating, “We wanted to have that support at the top end of the field. We didn’t manage to do that.”
Transfer Targets
Celtic are reportedly closing in on a loan deal for Manchester City’s 19-year-old centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, a move that could bolster their defensive options. Additionally, the club has had three bids rejected for Go Ahead Eagles’ attacking midfielder Jakob Breum, indicating their intent to add creativity to the midfield. Rodgers remains pragmatic about the transfer market’s pace, noting, “Coaches and the transfer market don’t move at the same pace. A coach always wants a player in immediately, but the transfer market doesn’t always work like that.”
🚨🟢⚪️ Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, set to join Celtic from Manchester City on loan until June 2026. pic.twitter.com/BkzmK2Hh2p
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 30, 2025
Despite the challenges, Rodgers is “excited by what’s here at the moment,” praising the squad’s pre-season performances and growing team spirit. The return of Jota from Rennes and the loan signing of Jeffrey Schlupp from Crystal Palace in January have added experience to the squad, with both players included in Celtic’s Champions League roster for the Bayern Munich clash. However, fan concerns persist, with some expressing frustration over the board’s perceived lack of ambition. One supporter, identified as Kevin, commented, “We need a reliable striker and we simply don’t have one any more, the board’s tight-fisted approach will, as usual, come back to bite them.”
The New Season
Celtic’s domestic dominance remains unquestioned, with the club securing 13 of the last 14 Scottish Premiership titles and a 15-point lead over rivals Rangers last season. However, Rodgers has his sights set on European progress, particularly in the revamped Champions League format. After reaching the play-off stage and pushing Bayern Munich close in the Allianz Arena, Celtic are determined to build on this momentum. The return of Tierney, a proven performer at the highest level, is seen as a statement of intent, with Rodgers highlighting the signing as a selling point for the club’s European ambitions.
As Celtic gear up for their season opener, live on Sky Sports, Rodgers is focused on fostering unity and maintaining the high standards that have defined their recent success. “Flag day represents an occasion that allows you to reflect a little on the season that has passed, in which we were champions and played very well,” he said. With the transfer window still open, Celtic fans will be eagerly awaiting news of new arrivals to ensure the squad is ready for the challenges of both the Scottish Premiership and the European stage.