Martin O'Neill expressed satisfaction with the recent transfer activity at Celtic, and Derek McInnes maintained that he finally possesses the type of dressing‑room environment he has long sought at Rangers. Celtic completed six of their ten summer signings in the last two days before the window shut, while McInnes added two more deadline‑day arrivals, bringing the total number of newcomers at Ibrox to fourteen. Among the late additions for the Hoops, Dutch midfielder Joel van den Berg arrived from PSV Eindhoven and Swiss right‑back Jordan Lotomba was secured from Feyenoord just before the UEFA registration deadline on Wednesday night. In addition, Celtic arranged loan deals for Wolves keeper Sam Johnstone, Parma midfielder Oliver Sorensen and two 18‑year‑old prospects from Chelsea – 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 nonetheless emphasized his delight at the influx of talent. "I'm genuinely pleased to have these players in the squad," he said.
"The only difficulty is that the UEFA list is restrictive – some young lads will be disappointed not to make that particular roster, but there are only so many places available. If we can keep our squad fit and avoid long‑term injuries, I consider the business a success." While Celtic's domestic rivals had largely finished their business earlier in the week, the champions continued to address obvious needs, such as finding a backup for the injured left‑back Kieran Tierney after the club's exit from the Champions League.
When questioned about the timing of the deals, O'Neill replied, "How many times do you want to hear that? We started negotiating back in July, so I'm happy with the players we have now. Ideally we would have secured them earlier to give them time to settle, but it doesn't matter – I'm really happy with the squad we have assembled." 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 satisfied with what we have at the moment. It's not a problem." Lotomba's contract runs only until the end of the current season, and O'Neill admitted he sometimes worries about loan players who may not view the club as their long‑term home.
"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 Julian Araujo had embraced Celtic wholeheartedly last season. "Loans can be a concern, but it depends on the individual." Turning 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, 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. McInnes also confirmed that left‑back Tuur Rommens, who has been recovering from a groin strain, will return to full training between the two forthcoming matches against Celtic. "We all breathed a huge sigh of relief when the window closed and now we can focus on the work ahead," the manager said.
He described the transfer period as feeling like "being at war" – the longest and most demanding window of his career, with countless variables to juggle. He stressed his philosophy regarding player mentality: "At Rangers I don't want to work with individuals who are constantly looking over their shoulders, always eyeing the next move. I want players who are committed to staying here, who want to grow with the club and achieve success together. This club can offer tremendous opportunities and memorable moments for both players and staff." McInnes praised the cohesion of the dressing‑room, especially over the past fortnight.
"The humour, the togetherness, the way we work – it feels exactly like the kind of dressing‑room I expect. That's crucial when you face adversity and tough results. We've already bounced back with wins at Falkirk and Aberdeen, showing the spirit and unity can carry us through difficult periods." He highlighted the youthful nature of the squad as both an exciting prospect and a developmental challenge.
"We have a very young dressing‑room, which brings a lot of potential but also a steep learning curve. Our job is to help these players fulfil that potential day in, day out, wearing the Rangers shirt.
I want them to make the most of every minute, whether they're selected or training. No one should have a lazy day; we will not tolerate sub‑par practice.
Every session must be approached with motivation and professionalism, as if you're fighting for a Saturday start." In summary, O'Neill feels content with Celtic's late‑season acquisitions despite UEFA squad limitations, while McInnes believes Rangers finally possess the committed, cohesive group he has long desired. Both managers look ahead to the upcoming fixtures with optimism, trusting that their respective squads will translate the new signings and renewed spirit into on‑field success.