Martin O'Neill expressed genuine satisfaction with the way Celtic have handled their recent transfer activity, while Derek McInnes insisted that the composition of the Rangers dressing room now aligns perfectly with the environment he has been striving to create. Celtic’s transfer window saw a flurry of activity in its closing stages, with six of the ten signings arriving within the final 48 hours. In parallel, McInnes oversaw the addition of two deadline‑day arrivals, bringing his total tally of newcomers at Ibrox to fourteen. Among the late arrivals for the Hoops, Dutch midfielder Joel van den Berg secured a move from PSV Eindhoven, and Swiss full‑back Jordan Lotomba completed a switch from Feyenoord just before the UEFA registration deadline on Wednesday night.
Celtic also finalized loan agreements for Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, Parma midfielder Oliver Sorensen, and a pair of 18‑year‑old prospects from Chelsea – Shim Mheuka and Landon Emenalo. Because UEFA limits the number of players that can be registered for European competition, the Chelsea loanees and van den Berg were omitted from Celtic’s Europa League squad. O'Neill addressed the situation, 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 many of Celtic’s domestic rivals completed the bulk of their business earlier in the window, the champions continued to target specific needs, such as securing a reliable understudy for the injured left‑back Kieran Tierney after the club’s Champions League campaign ended. When pressed on 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." The manager was also asked whether he regretted missing out on Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis. At 74, O'Neill was unequivocal: "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 reflected on the broader issue of loan signings, noting, "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. 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 a palpable sense of relief when the transfer window slammed shut on Thursday evening.
The Scottish side added a mix of permanent and loan deals, highlighted by the arrival of 22‑year‑old Venezuelan striker Kevin Kelsy from the Portland Timbers on a four‑year contract with an optional fifth year – a transaction reported to be worth roughly £9.5 million. Additionally, Algerian winger Badredine Bouanani joined 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 after recovering from a groin strain, positioning him to feature in the two forthcoming fixtures against Celtic. "It feels like I've been to war this window, to be honest.
It feels like the longest window I've ever known. There's always so much to consider." The Rangers boss emphasized his philosophy regarding player mentality: "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 atmosphere within the squad, noting, "I need to say the dressing room, particularly over the last couple of weeks, has been so strong and so together. It actually feels like a football dressing room.
The humour, the togetherness and how we work has felt far more like what I would expect my dressing rooms to look like and behave like. That's important when you come through adversity and stinging results. Equally, we've bounced back really well in two tough away games (wins at Falkirk and Aberdeen)." McInnes continued, "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." In summary, both clubs appear content with the outcomes of a hectic transfer period. O'Neill’s Celtic have bolstered their ranks despite UEFA registration constraints, while McInnes’s Rangers have assembled a squad that reflects his desire for commitment, camaraderie, and long‑term development. The upcoming fixtures will provide the first real test of how these new faces integrate and whether the optimism expressed by both managers translates into on‑field success.