Celtic transfer news and rumours can be put to bed for the next few months now that the Scottish summer transfer window has closed.
Over the course of the window, Celtic recruited seven players on a permanent basis in the shape of Viljami Sinisalo, Kasper Schmeichel, Paulo Bernardo, Adam Idah, Auston Trusty, Arne Engels and Luke McCowan on permanent contracts – with Alex Valle also joining on a season-long loan from Barcelona.
Through all of this, Brendan Rodgers has strengthened his side as they stare down Champions League football – catch up with Celtic’s UEFA Champions League draw as it happened on Thursday, August 29 – while also aiming to retain the Scottish Premiership title.
After traveling to London on Friday morning for a medical, travelling north and putting pen to paper at Paradise, Arne Engels was officially announced as a Celtic player inside the final hour of transfer deadline day.
It’s understood the four-year deal is worth £11m, making the 20-year-old the club’s most expensive signing of all time – a title previously held by Odsonne Edouard who joined Celtic for £9m in 2018.
Engels is primarily a central midfielder but can also be deployed on the right flank. The 20-year-old could be viewed as a successor to Matt O’Riley.
Auston Trusty was confirmed as Celtic’s fifth permanent signing of the transfer window with a few hours of the summer transfer window remaining.
The deal is reported to be in the vicinity of £6m, and will provide Brendan Rodgers with some sought-after reinforcements across Celtic’s backline. Here’s the WWE-inspired reveal from the club itself:
Dundee captain Luke McCowan made his dream move to the Scottish champions in a three-year deal for a reported £1m.
The 26-year-old midfielder was Celtic’s final piece of business during the Scottish summer transfer window.
Of the deal, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers told the official Celtic website: “We are really happy to welcome Luke to Celtic.
“He is a player with great ability, energy and commitment and we are sure he will be a very positive addition to our squad.”
A reinforcement at left-back is something Celtic supporters have long-desired to both aid Greg Taylor and offer competition for the position in the first-team’s backline.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that 20-year-old Barcelona full-back Alex Valle had signed a season-long loan deal under Brendan Rodgers.
After being heavily linked with Celtic earlier this month, Kasper Schmeichel signed a one-year deal with the club which will see him remain at Parkhead until the summer of 2025.
In a move that marks a reunion between the 37-year-old and Brendan Rodgers – the two having worked together at Leicester City – the veteran stopper most recently plied his trade at Nice and Anderlecht during the two previous seasons.
Signed just ahead of Kasper Schmeichel, 22-year-old Finnish keeper Sinisalo checked in at Celtic Park, signing on a five-year contract after a reported fee of around £1m was agreed with Aston Villa, before jetting straight out to meet Brendan Rodgers and his new teammates on their preseason tour of America.
Having accrued some game time across the pond, the young stopper looked confident between the sticks, and comes well-rated having spent last season on loan at Exeter City.
Leave a Reply