Martin O'Neill expressed satisfaction with the way Celtic have handled their transfer activity this summer, and Derek McInnes insisted that the Rangers dressing room now reflects the environment he has long wanted. Both managers spoke about the final days of the transfer window, the composition of their squads and the challenges of integrating new players. Celtic completed six of their ten summer signings in the last two days before the window shut, and McInnes added two further deadline‑day arrivals, bringing the total number of fresh faces at Ibrox to fourteen. Among the new arrivals for the Hoops, Dutch midfielder Joel van den Berg arrived from PSV Eindhoven and Swiss full‑back Jordan Lotomba was secured from Feyenoord just before the UEFA registration deadline on Wednesday night.
Celtic also secured loan deals for Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, Parma midfielder Oliver Sorensen and two 18‑year‑old Chelsea prospects, Shim Mheuka and Landon Emenalo. Because UEFA limits the size of European competition squads, the Chelsea loanees and Van den Berg were omitted from Celtic’s Europa League list. "I’m delighted to get players," O'Neill said. "Genuinely pleased.
The difficulty is that you only have to look at the UEFA list. Some young lads will be disappointed not being able to make that particular UEFA squad. So there's only so many places that we could fill. If we can avoid serious injury to the players here, people not being out for endless lengths of time, then I'm happy with it." While Celtic’s rivals in the Scottish Premiership had largely finished their business before the final week, the champions were still addressing obvious gaps, notably a backup for the injured left‑back Kieran Tierney after the club’s exit from the Champions League.
When asked what lessons could be drawn from the timing of the deals, O'Neill replied, "How many times are you going to ask me that each week? We started this in July time. So I'm pleased with the players that we've got in. We've got them in and I genuinely want to get on with it now.
Ideally, it would be great to have got players in earlier to get them bedded in. It doesn't matter. Happy, really happy to have the players that we have." He was also questioned about missing out on Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis.
The 74‑year‑old manager shrugged, "No, I'm really pleased with what we have now at this minute. So, honestly, not a problem." Lotomba’s contract runs only until the end of the season, and O'Neill admitted he sometimes worries about loan players not feeling fully committed to the club. "I sometimes concern myself about loan players coming in and maybe not seeing the club that they're going to as the club that they really want to play for," he said, noting that some loanees, such as Julian Araujo last season, have embraced the Celtic identity wholeheartedly. "Loans are sometimes a bit of a concern, but it depends on the player." Switching focus to Rangers, McInnes confessed he "took a huge sigh of relief" when the transfer window finally closed on Thursday evening.
The Scottish side added several high‑profile signings: 22‑year‑old Venezuelan striker Kevin Kelsy, who arrived from the Portland Timbers on a four‑year deal with an optional fifth year and a reported fee of about £9.5 million, and Algerian winger Badredine Bouanani, who joined on a season‑long loan from Stuttgart. Both are expected to feature in the upcoming Scottish Premiership clash with Motherwell. "We all took a huge sigh of relief when the window closed yesterday and we get on with the job in hand," McInnes said, adding that left‑back Tuur Rommens will resume full training after recovering from a groin strain. He described the window as feeling "like I've been to war" – the longest and most demanding he has ever experienced – with countless variables to weigh.
The Rangers boss emphasized his desire for players who are fully invested in the club, rather than those constantly looking ahead to the next move. "I want people who want to be here, who want to hang about the club for a period of time and want to be successful here. This club can provide so much opportunity and so many good moments for a player, manager and the like. I just want us to commit to being here and put all our focus on the club.
The club is deserving of that. The players are deserving of each other, to get that tightness and closeness." He praised the recent atmosphere in the dressing room, noting that over the past couple of weeks it has felt like a genuine football locker room, with humour, camaraderie and a shared work ethic. "That spirit and togetherness helps you get through difficult times, and you need that at any club, but particularly here. We are a very young dressing room.
That is exciting and there is a lot of potential, but there are also lots of learnings for these young boys. It's our job to help them fulfil that potential in a Rangers shirt, day in and day out." McInnes warned against complacency, insisting that every training session must be approached with purpose. "I just want the players not to waste their minutes or opportunities.
Whether they're picked or training, don't see any day as a lazy day. We're not going to accept bad practice here. Every day has to be important. You train with motivation, professionally, and as if you're trying to get into the team on a Saturday." In summary, both O'Neill and McInnes appear content with the personnel they have assembled, even if some deals were concluded at the very last minute.
O'Neill is optimistic that the new faces will settle quickly and contribute to Celtic’s domestic and European ambitions, while McInnes believes the recent signings and the strong, youthful dressing‑room culture will underpin Rangers’ pursuit of further success in Scotland.