After eleven long weeks, it’s going down to the wire | OneFootball

After eleven long weeks, we’re finally down to eleven hours. Celtic’s transfer deadline day circus is in full swing, and naturally, we’ve arrived here in peak Celtic fashion – nine players signed, six still needed, and the nagging feeling that nothing has really changed. It’s not just transfers, it’s Celtic transfers.

Within the squad, the mood is… mixed. Adam Idah looks ready to head out the door, with the world’s first quadruple medical all but completed.

Meanwhile while Stephen Welsh is doing his best to disappear under a pile of bibs at Lennoxtown, praying nobody remembers he’s still here, and Yang wants to throw a strop, chuck his toys out the pram and demand he’s allowed to move to Birmingham, but he’s just been too well brought up.

Callum Osmand and Hayato Inamura must be wondering what on earth they’ve done to deserve a loan move to a Scottish Championship team specialising in the noble art of hoofball – perhaps their neck muscles need strengthening. And Johnny Kenny? He’ll be told by Welsh to find his own hiding place.

Johnny Kenny of Celtic reacts during the Premier Sports League Cup match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on August 15, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic, in their infinite wisdom, began the summer needing three signings. Naturally, we’ve ended up with nine—while still desperately short in three key positions and arguably also needing three more. My head hurts too.

The roll call so far – Kieran Tierney. Or at least, a return of a similar player we sold to Arsenal six years ago, but who is now good at throw-ins – hardhat on!

Benjamin Nygren theRangers v Celtic, 31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Benjamin Nygren. Actually, looks decent but we don’t know where to play him.

JSP – On loan from Manchester City, because if you can’t develop your own, borrow Pep’s, and don’t play them either.

Callum McGregor and Marcelo Saracchi. theRangers v Celtic, 31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Marcelo Saracchi. A Boca Juniors left-back on loan, that at least gives Inamura some hope that all is not lost.

Ross Doohan. A goalkeeper surplus to requirements since roughly 1996, but is happy to return to a club who couldn’t offer him a pathway first time around, simply to avoid another Steve Clarke call up during his summer holidays.

Shin Yamada – A striker Brendan Rodgers surely knows is his best fit, but must downplay, so he can beg for another.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha. theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Michel Ange Balikwisha. Signed last week, though available in June—savings made, exactly zero pounds.

Hayato Inamura & Callum Osmand. Labelled “projects,” though arguably better stylistic fits for Rodgers than some he’ll actually use—if only he could decide what his style is in the first place.

And yet, after all this frantic business, here we are – still short of two wingers, at least one striker (Rodgers insists on two), a right-back, because no Anthony Ralston cannot cover for three months without reputational damage to the club, and mental anguish to the support, and the -some say – glaring need for some physicality in midfield—highlighted all too clearly by a deep lying bluenose midfielder yesterday with eyes made for a Piriton advert.

So, who’s next? Rumours swirl around Kasper Dolberg of Anderlecht, though of course it’s “going to the wire” and there’s nothing to worry about his former club Ajax selling a striker for £20m today. A Crystal Palace winger has been mentioned—finally, someone who can play on the right—but with Leicester, alongside some 37 other clubs circling, Celtic fans know how that story ends.

And then there’s Sebastian Tounekti of Hammarby. His club insists he’s not for sale, and Celtic apparently haven’t been in touch since Friday. But the player suggests he still feels “vibes” that we’ll come calling again. Nothing screams Celtic deadline day like chasing a player whose own club says the deal is off and were so concerned about protecting their asset that they played him yesterday.

Still, let’s phone until 7pm—once the English market has closed and desperate agents start calling directly – well we’re not paying for outbound calls. Only then do we swing into action, swooping for players with hamstrings primed to ping, questionable attitudes, or waistlines 8 kilos past professional standard. Still, he’s got an idea for a player trading app, He’s going to call it ‘Minted’.

Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay applaud during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park on August 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Yes, it’s deadline day. Yes, we’ll wait until 11pm. And yes, we’ll convince ourselves that the players crawling through the door aren’t here because every other club said “no thanks.” And if all else fails, there’s always Patrick Bamford.

Because this is Celtic: the club that can sign nine players, still need six more, and end the summer with the same problems we started with.

Oh, and Brentford have all but sold Wissa. Just in case you weren’t worried about Daizen. You’re welcome.

Niall J