Celtic have completed a season-long loan deal for Parma midfielder Oliver Sorensen while selling Reo Hatate and Johnny Kenny in a busy end to the transfer window. The moves were confirmed by the club this week as reported by BBC Sport Football, with the Scottish deadline set for Thursday at 17:00 BST.
Sorensen, 24, joins after signing for Parma in August 2025 following five years with Danish side Midtjylland. His arrival marks the fifth first-team signing of this transfer window for Celtic. The club currently sits first in the Premiership with nine points from three wins, having scored eight goals and conceded just two.
Who is new signing Oliver Sorensen?
Oliver Sorensen is a 24-year-old midfielder who has spent the last year with Italian club Parma. Before that, he developed over five seasons with FC Midtjylland in Denmark's top flight. Celtic have brought him in on a loan deal that will cover the entirety of the current campaign. Assistant manager Shaun Maloney indicated the need for midfield reinforcements, stating the club required a player with a different profile to add speed, power, and technical quality to the middle of the park.
Why did Celtic sell Reo Hatate?
Reo Hatate's departure to Burnley brings an end to a successful four-and-a-half year spell at Celtic Park. The 28-year-old Japan international signed a three-year contract with the Premier League side. During his time in Glasgow, Hatate made 191 appearances and scored 33 goals since arriving from Kawasaki Frontale in January 2022. Shaun Maloney paid tribute to the departing player. "He's a brilliant player. What he's done at the club has been really, really good. He's won many titles here," Maloney said.
Where does Johnny Kenny fit into the plans?
Striker Johnny Kenny, 23, has joined Preston North End on a permanent deal, signing a four-year contract. Kenny spent the latter part of last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers. His sale, along with Hatate's, provides funds and squad space as Celtic look to strengthen further before the deadline. The club holds a two-point lead at the top of the table over St Mirren, with their next fixture a home match against Motherwell on December 26th. You can view the full schedule on our fixtures page.
What business remains for Celtic before the deadline?
Assistant manager Shaun Maloney was clear about the work still required. He confirmed the need to recruit a left-back to compete with and provide back-up for Scotland international Kieran Tierney. Maloney also stressed the importance of filling key midfield positions. The Europa League squad registration deadline is Wednesday at 23:59, adding urgency to the final moves. "It's pretty difficult to talk about prospective signings and nothing's confirmed with anyone," Maloney added, addressing ongoing links with Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joel van den Berg. The current squad details are available on our squad page.
Celtic's strong start to the season, reflected in their perfect record and league-leading goal difference of +6, provides a solid platform for the new arrivals. The focus now shifts to integrating Sorensen and any further signings ahead of the winter fixture against Motherwell, who currently sit sixth in the Premiership.
