Martin O'Neill expressed satisfaction with the recent activity in Celtic's transfer market, while Derek McInnes affirmed that he finally possesses the type of dressing‑room environment he has long envisioned at Rangers. Celtic completed six of their ten summer signings in the final two days before the window shut, and McInnes added two more deadline‑day arrivals, bringing the total number of new faces at Ibrox to fourteen. Among the latest arrivals, Dutch midfielder Joel van den Berg secured a move from PSV Eindhoven, and Swiss full‑back Jordan Lotomba left Feyenoord to join the Hoops just before the UEFA registration deadline on Wednesday night. In addition, Celtic arranged loan deals for Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, Parma midfielder Oliver Sørensen, and two 18‑year‑old Chelsea prospects, Shim Mheuka and Landon Emenalo.
Because UEFA limits the size of its competition squads, the Chelsea loanees and van den Berg were omitted from Celtic's Europa League list. O'Neill acknowledged the restriction, saying, "I'm delighted to get players – 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 domestic rivals completed most of their business early, the champions still needed to address obvious gaps, such as finding a backup for the injured left‑back Kieran Tierney after the club's Champions League exit. When pressed about the timing of his signings, 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 asked whether he regretted missing out on Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis. The 74‑year‑old manager shrugged it off: "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 current season, and O'Neill reflected on the mixed nature of loan deals. "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.
"But I've also had loans of players who have loved the football club. For instance, Julian Araujo took the club to heart last season and that was great. Honestly, he would have done anything for the club. So, from that viewpoint, you're never sure.
Loans are sometimes a bit of a concern, but it depends on the player." Turning to Rangers, McInnes admitted he breathed a massive sigh of relief when the transfer window finally slammed shut on Thursday evening. The club secured a number of notable arrivals, including 22‑year‑old Venezuelan striker Kevin Kelsy from the Portland Timbers on a four‑year deal with an optional fifth year, reportedly worth around £9.5 million. Algerian winger Badredine Bouanani arrived on a season‑long loan from Stuttgart, and both newcomers were named in the squad for 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 would resume full training between the two forthcoming Celtic fixtures 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. "At Rangers, I don't want to work with players who just see what's next and what's next after this, always maybe eagerly eyeing up other opportunities. 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 Rangers dressing room, noting that over the past couple of weeks it has felt "so strong and so together" – a genuine football locker‑room vibe 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. 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." McInnes also highlighted the recent results that demonstrate the squad's resilience: after a challenging period, Rangers bounced back with away victories at Falkirk and Aberdeen, underscoring the importance of collective belief and hard work. In summary, both managers conveyed optimism. O'Neill is content with the talent Celtic have brought in, even if some youngsters missed out on European squad places, and he remains focused on integrating the new faces as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, McInnes feels he finally has the cohesive, ambitious dressing‑room culture he desired, and he is eager to see the new signings contribute to Rangers' pursuit of domestic success.