Celtic 25/26 Summer transfer window: Stage: Nicholson firing up the Fax Machine

I just can’t believe how we felt after Bayern Munich to now.

Madness selling Kuhn before CL play off
Madness buying players Brendan didn’t sign off on
Madness trying to leave everything to last minute after a 40m play off
Madness not pushing the boat out more

Literally no part of this window made sense for me..

 

Hello darkness my old friend...

 

From Mark Hendry on the CeltsAreHere Substack


Celtic endured one of their worst ever transfer windows this summer, there can be no doubt.
But it was deadline day that brought the most frustration for fans, who could only turn to journalists on social media for the latest updates during what was a remarkably slow 24 hours.
It was quite shambolic, really. Adam Idah left the club and was not replaced. Only one winger, Sebastian Tounekti, was unveiled at 11pm—and even that deal was poorly handled.
We must go back to the beginning of deadline day, when punters were quietly hopeful. We wouldn’t go so far as to say optimistic, but fingers were crossed early on.
Kasper Dolberg was the priority striker target for the Hoops, with Anderlecht willing to play ball but only on their terms.
Celtic wanted the Danish international, but we can exclusively reveal the first offer from the Scottish champions in the early hours of deadline day was £4million.
Granted, negotiations will always involve haggling, but the Hoops entered the conversation well below the asking price—half of it, even.
Discussions continued and as many as three bids were tabled by Celtic. It must be said, they did eventually meet the £8.5m Anderlecht wanted, but by then it was game over and Ajax had joined the party.
We also understand Dolberg’s salary would likely have been an issue.
Tounekti was one Celtic identified following the breakdown in talks over Jakub Breum earlier in the window.
Perhaps he’s not quite a £5.2m player yet, but that’s what the club were forced to pay a stubborn Hammarby to avoid having their pants pulled down completely by signing nobody at all.
Sekou Mara was also of interest to Celtic. They checked with his representatives on a possible loan, which we understand Strasbourg were willing to sanction. But they never returned to the table, and Auxerre emerged as contenders.
In the end, the player went nowhere and was still available had they truly fancied him.
It is our understanding Celtic were left scrambling late on, but one source told us as early as 9pm on Monday that they had already pulled out of any late loan attempts.
They did not have the confidence anything could be done in the final two hours—why would they?—and instead opted to wait and raid the free-transfer bargain bin.
In terms of outgoings, you have to feel for Yang, who missed out on a move to Birmingham City. The Korean had travelled down south for medical tests before being hauled back to Glasgow with £3m left on the table.
The Blues are understood to have been furious with Celtic’s handling of the situation. However, they arguably had the last laugh when they landed Paddy Roberts on loan from Sunderland instead.
Kelechi Iheanacho has now been acquired after his Sevilla deal was ripped up an hour before the deadline. It meant the Nigerian could get a deal done with Celtic outside the window. Regardless of this signing — Celtic’s recruitment and negotiation policy has been laid bare for everyone to see. A smart, and progressive club would rethink their strategy going forward…

 

What an absolute shambles this has been. No excuses for this. None.

Kyogo away in January
Jota out until Feb/March
Kuhn sold in the summer
Idah - the best of a mixed bag also sold

That's a lot of goals gone. Not to mention quality.

No recognized right winger in either.

Unbelievable.

 

One positive and I'm clutching at straws here is we might see more youths playing first team football

Sent from my 21121210G using Tapatalk

 

The only thing that makes sense, is the * in charge want to hold us back to make sure we don't get too far ahead of sevco.

They're prepared to sacrafice Celtic to keep the illusion of the "old firm" alive, and they need * hounded out of OUR club

 

With this window and current player form Id say we could be looking at 2nd or 3rd in this league.

If Hearts get their * in order they can defo win this, think huns will have done enough in transfer market to overtake us. Only hope Martin keeps up this management style though.

 

Yeah, more game time for Ralston hopefully, he has potential

 

I thought this was a @RalstonFanClubPresident post at first

 

Don’t go to bed yet Celts


Our pal Fabio Roman has an update for us




Celtic have been linked with a move to sign a free-agent after the transfer window closed, and Fabrizio Romano has shared what he's hearing, writing in his exclusive GIVEMESPORT newsletter.



Celtic endured a disappointing deadline day, allowing Adam Idah to join Swansea City, while failing to bring in a replacement. The Scottish Premiership side made a late move to sign former Sevilla striker Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer, and they finally confirmed the signing on Tuesday evening, thankfully having more time to bring in a free-agent when the window slammed shut.

Celtic have enjoyed an impressive start to the 2025/2026 season, sitting top of the table with three wins from four, drawing another. They sit level on points with Hearts but ahead on goal difference, and they already have a six point cushion ahead of their Glasgow rivals Rangers. Both sides strengthened during the summer transfer window, and Celtic have even been reportedly exploring the free-agent market since the deadline.



















Writing in his exclusive GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Romano answered a question on whether Celtic could use the free-agent market once again in the coming days after only bringing in one new addition on deadline day. The respected reporter confirms that they could, but at the moment there is nothing close or decided just yet after the signing of Iheanacho...






"Could be, but at the moment nothing close or decided yet

 

Groundbreaking stuff.

 

Waiting to see which ex top 5 division players are willing to take a 5-10k a week wage

 

We replaced Kyogo yet?

 

Donno. Kyogo had played more minute than shin by the 2nd game.

#giveshinachance

 

Since the year 2000 our revenue has went from <£40m to >£100m

Lawwell joined us in 2003 and to this day 30%+ of our biggest transfers in come before 2003. Meanwhile clubs that we would often compare ourselves to are miles ahead.

The signs have always been there, but it’s absolutely inexcusable that from 2012 onwards we have only tried to stay one step ahead of whoever was behind us.

It’s pathetic - as long as these * stay in charge, Celtic will be an organisation that plays football on the side.

 

I miss the days when I thought Greg Taylor was the weakest part of the team.

 

Nobody is talking about how Balikwisha will end up not making the grade here. It’s not just the lack of true investment at Celtic, but there is a lot of poor and off the wall decision making.

Gives off complete Barkas vibes.

I hope to be wrong and will very happily eat my words.

 

It would mean having to ignore what you’ve seen with your eyes.

Du Wei got cancelled for less