Martin O'Neill has made it clear that Celtic will continue to add to their squad this summer, emphasizing that the club is focused on bringing in high‑calibre talent rather than simply filling numbers. The reigning Scottish Premiership champions have already secured the services of Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh, and have renewed Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain on a one‑year contract, but O'Neill insists the transfer window is far from over.
Fans have expressed growing impatience over what they perceive as a sluggish market, especially after the departure of key striker Daizen Maeda, who has signed for newly promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town. O'Neill acknowledges the loss, describing Maeda as a "big, big player" for Celtic, and assures supporters that the club is actively seeking a suitable replacement.
"We’re trying to get some quality into the football club," the 74‑year‑old manager told Sky Sports News. "We will get some more players in, there’s no question about that, but I want quality rather than quantity." Celtic’s season opener sees them defending their title against Dundee on Monday, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports ahead of their upcoming Champions League play‑off later in the month. O'Neill is urging supporters to exercise patience as the club finalises its summer business, stressing that the focus remains on securing players who can make an immediate impact.
Reflecting on the previous campaign, O'Neill highlighted the mental resilience that helped Celtic clinch the championship in a dramatic final‑day showdown with Hearts in May. "Last season was terrific, it’s gone now, it’s consigned to history. Now we’re ready to go," he said. "It was mentality as much as anything else that got us over the line.
It was strong, it was a will to win and we saw it through. That will be very, very important this season, there’s no question about that." Meanwhile, captain Callum McGregor has addressed the swirling speculation linking him with a move back to former manager Brendan Rodgers at Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia. The 33‑year‑old reiterated his commitment to Celtic, describing the club as a lifelong passion that began when he was eight or nine years old. "Listen, this is a football club that’s been part of my whole life since I was eight, nine years old.
It’s where I want to be. It’s where I want to play football," McGregor said. He added that his ambition is to help Celtic continue to succeed and, when the time comes, to leave the club in a strong position. When asked whether Celtic’s recent signings align with his personal goals, McGregor responded affirmatively.
He praised the acquisition of two new strikers, including the recent arrival of Kasper Hogh, calling the moves "good signs" and "positive steps" that enhance an already solid squad. "I don’t think there’s a group of players and a group of staff that could have got us through that difficult moment as much as these boys did," he noted, emphasizing the collective effort that delivered the title. McGregor also outlined the club’s long‑term objective of establishing itself as a regular participant in the Champions League, a target he believes will elevate Celtic to a new level both financially and competitively.
"Obviously, the standard for us is trying to get to Champions League football. That’s where we want to be. It takes the club to a different level," he explained, urging the entire organization—players, staff, and management—to keep pushing toward that ambition.
The upcoming match against Dundee, set for 7.30pm on August 3, marks the start of Celtic’s title defence on home soil and will be part of a historic opening weekend in which all six top‑flight fixtures are broadcast live on Sky Sports for the first time. The club’s full fixture list, including the date of the season’s first Old Firm encounter, is available for fans to review.
In summary, O'Neill’s message to the Celtic faithful is one of measured optimism: more signings are coming, but the priority will be on quality. McGregor, for his part, remains firmly rooted at Celtic, eager to contribute to the club’s pursuit of domestic dominance and European progression.
Both men underscore a shared belief that the combination of strategic recruitment, mental fortitude, and a unified squad will be essential as Celtic looks to build on last season’s success and aim for the coveted Champions League stage.