Martin O'Neill has made it clear that Celtic will be active in the transfer market this summer, emphasizing that the club is focused on securing high‑quality additions rather than simply increasing numbers. The reigning Scottish Premiership champions have already secured the services of Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh, and they have also re‑signed Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain on a fresh one‑year contract.
Despite these moves, many fans have expressed disappointment over what they perceive as a sluggish transfer window, especially after the club’s leading striker, Daizen Maeda, departed for newly‑promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town. Celtic’s campaign kicks off with a home match against Dundee on Monday, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, followed by a crucial Champions League play‑off later in the month. O'Neill has urged supporters to exercise patience as the club continues to fine‑tune its squad.
"We’re aiming to bring quality into the football club," the 74‑year‑old manager told Sky Sports News. "Losing Daizen was a big blow – he was a key player for us – so we need to find a suitable replacement. I believe we are doing everything we can to achieve that." He added, "We will bring in more players, there’s no doubt about that, but I want quality over quantity." After a turbulent season that saw O'Neill return to Celtic twice, the team clinched the league title on the final day with a decisive victory over Hearts in May. He stressed that the lessons learned from that roller‑coaster ride must be carried forward into the new campaign.
"Last season was fantastic, but it’s now part of history. We’re ready to move on," O'Neill said. "Our mentality was a huge factor in winning – we had a strong desire to win and we saw it through. That mindset will be vital this season, without question." Meanwhile, captain Callum McGregor has dismissed 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. "This club has been part of my life since I was eight or nine. It’s where I want to be and where I want to play," McGregor explained.
"My goal is to keep contributing as much as possible to the club’s success, and when the time comes to leave, I want to do so having helped make Celtic a stronger institution." When asked whether Celtic’s ambitions align with his own, McGregor responded affirmatively, pointing to recent signings as evidence of the club’s intent. "We’ve added two strikers and two very good players recently. Kasper Hogh joined us just in the last 24 hours – it’s a positive sign and a step forward for an already strong group," he said.
"At the end of the season I highlighted how crucial the squad and staff were in navigating a difficult period. It’s about adding bits of quality, but we already have players who are eager to work for the club, improve their game, and have delivered success during a challenging season.
This gives us the foundation for a truly great team." McGregor also emphasized the club’s ultimate target: reaching the Champions League proper. He believes that achieving this milestone would elevate Celtic to a new level of prestige and financial stability. "Our standard is to aim for Champions League football. That competition takes the club to a different tier.
We must keep pushing as players, staff, and as a club to make that happen," he asserted. Celtic’s opening Premiership fixture against Dundee on August 3 will be played at home, with a 7:30 pm kickoff, and will be part of a historic opening weekend where all six top‑flight games are shown live on Sky Sports for the first time. Fans can follow the full schedule of Celtic’s league matches, including the date of the season’s first Old Firm encounter, via the club’s official fixtures list.
In summary, O'Neill’s message to the Celtic faithful is one of optimism tempered with realism: more signings are forthcoming, but the emphasis will be on players who can raise the team’s overall standard. McGregor’s statements reinforce a shared vision of continuity, ambition, and a collective drive to return to European glory.
Both the manager and the captain underscore the importance of maintaining the winning mentality that secured the league title last season, while also acknowledging the need for strategic reinforcements to compete on both domestic and continental stages.