Celtic's late transfer window activity has sparked debate after the club signed six players just before the deadline closed. The Daily Mail Sport reported on the flurry of deals, questioning why the business wasn't completed earlier following the team's Champions League qualifying defeat to LASK. The Scottish Premiership leaders currently sit top of the table with a perfect record of three wins from three games, holding a two-point advantage over St Mirren.
Why were the signings so late?
Celtic secured the arrivals of Joel van den Berg, Oliver Sorensen, Sam Johnstone, Shim Mheuka, Gvidas Gineitis, and Landon Emenalo as the window approached its 11pm European deadline. This came after the club had already invested £30 million on four players earlier in the summer. Assistant manager Shaun Maloney acknowledged the timing. "You can understand that. From a coach's point of view, you want them as early as possible," he said. The recruitment follows a difficult January window marked by Wilfried Nancy's departure and a shift in playing style that left the team unprepared.
What was the impact of the LASK defeat?
The late business is viewed in the context of Celtic's painful 5-4 aggregate loss to Austrian side LASK in a Champions League qualifier. That defeat, which sent the club into a European play-off scheduled for mid-August, left players dejected. The board, led by manager Martin O'Neill who was appointed on June 11, has been involved in transfer planning since the end of May. The club's performance in a subsequent win against Falkirk also raised concerns about their work off the ball, highlighting areas the new signings must address.
How do the new players fit the squad?
The new arrivals join a squad that has already integrated players like Julian Araujo, who joined on loan from Bournemouth and impressed before fitness issues, and free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who signed in February. Sam Johnstone is expected to join from Wolves, while Oliver Sorensen was a specific target. Maloney stressed the coaching staff's role in integrating the late arrivals. "We'd love them as soon as possible, but from a coaching point of view it's about being as positive as possible, helping them integrate as soon as we can and improving the team's performance."
What is Celtic's current form?
Despite the European setback, Celtic's domestic form has been strong. They lead the Premiership with nine points from three games, scoring eight goals and conceding just two for a healthy +6 goal difference. You can view the full league standings on our site. Their next challenge is a home match against Motherwell, who are sixth in the table, on December 26th. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches on our dedicated fixtures page. The club will hope the new signings bolster a squad that already shows title-winning form in the league.
