Martin O'Neill expressed genuine satisfaction with the recent additions to Celtic’s roster, and Derek McInnes insisted that the composition of his Rangers dressing room now matches the environment he has always wanted. The transfer window proved to be a bustling period for both clubs, though each approached the final days in a slightly different manner.
Celtic completed six of their ten summer signings within the last 48 hours before the window shut, while McInnes bolstered his squad with two further deadline‑day acquisitions, bringing the total number of new faces at Ibrox to fourteen. Among the most notable arrivals for the Hoops were Dutch midfielder Joel van den Berg, who arrived from PSV Eindhoven, and Swiss right‑back Jordan Lotomba, who made the move from Feyenoord just before UEFA’s registration deadline on Wednesday night. In addition, Celtic secured loan deals for Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, Parma midfielder Oliver Sorensen, and two promising 18‑year‑olds from Chelsea – Shim Mheuka and Landon Emenalo.
Because UEFA imposes strict limits on the size of continental competition squads, the Chelsea loanees and van den Berg were omitted from Celtic’s Europa League list. O'Neill, however, brushed off any disappointment, stating, "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." Celtic’s domestic rivals in the Scottish Premiership had largely finished their business before the final week, yet the champions still needed to address clear deficiencies, such as finding a reliable backup for the injured left‑back Kieran Tierney after the team’s exit from the Champions League.
When pressed about the timing of his signings, O'Neill replied with a hint of frustration, "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 season, and O'Neill admitted that loan players can be a double‑edged sword. "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 he has also seen loanees who embrace the team wholeheartedly.
He cited Julian Araujo’s commitment last season as an example of a player who "would have done anything for the club." O'Neill concluded that the success of a loan depends heavily on the individual’s mindset. Across the border at Rangers, McInnes breathed a collective sigh of relief when the transfer deadline finally passed on Thursday evening. He confirmed that the club had secured Venezuelan striker Kevin Kelsy from the Portland Timbers on a four‑year deal with an optional fifth year, a transfer reported to be worth around £9.5 million.
Additionally, Algerian winger Badredine Bouanani arrived on a season‑long loan from Stuttgart. Both newcomers were slated to feature in the upcoming Scottish Premiership clash against 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, just in time for the two forthcoming fixtures against Celtic. Reflecting on the intensity of the market, McInnes likened the experience to being at war, describing it as "the longest window I've ever known" with countless variables to juggle. He emphasized his philosophy of building a squad that prioritises loyalty and long‑term commitment over players who are constantly looking for the next move. "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 within the Rangers dressing room, noting that the camaraderie, humor, and collective work ethic had returned to the standards he expects. "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," McInnes said.
He highlighted that this unity is crucial when a team faces adversity and tough results, citing recent away victories at Falkirk and Aberdeen as evidence of the squad’s resilience. The manager also spoke about the youthfulness of his group, describing it as "very young" yet full of potential.
He acknowledged that the youngsters have much to learn, and it is his responsibility to nurture that talent day in and day out. "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 O'Neill and McInnes appear content with the outcomes of the summer market. Celtic have filled most of the gaps they identified, even if some acquisitions missed out on European squad registration, while Rangers have assembled a mix of permanent signings and loan deals that align with McInnes’s vision of a committed, cohesive, and ambitious dressing room. The upcoming fixtures will provide the first real test of whether these new faces can translate their promise into consistent performances on the pitch.