Celtic have completed the signing of Parma midfielder Oliver Sorensen on loan as assistant manager Shaun Maloney confirmed the Scottish champions are targeting three or four more recruits before their Europa League squad deadline on Wednesday, with the club also managing a series of potential departures.
Sorensen, 24, will spend the season at Celtic, who hold an option to buy the Danish player. He joined Parma in August 2025 after five years with Midtjylland.
Celtic Europa League squad deadline drives transfer push
Maloney made clear the Celtic Europa League squad registration, which must be completed by 23:59 on Wednesday, is driving the pace of business. The Scottish domestic transfer deadline falls on Thursday at 17:00 BST, giving the club a tight window in which to act.
‘All the guys that we’d be looking to try and bring in, with that European deadline we want to try and get them in the squad if we can,’ Maloney said ahead of Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership visit by Aberdeen. ‘We’ll be looking to strengthen that squad, particularly European squad for that deadline. Some really key positions in the squad, you’re looking at three or four and, if there’s anymore than that, that’ll be really, the thinking of the club will be for the future.’
Celtic have already brought in four first-team players during the summer window. Maloney identified the midfield and left-back positions as areas still requiring reinforcement.
Replacing Engels and potential Hatate exit
Sorensen’s arrival is expected to address the void left by Arne Engels’ departure to West Ham United. Maloney was direct about what the club now requires in that area.
‘There’s certain things that Arne brought that we need to replace and the quicker we do that, it gives us just that extra dimension, extra speed, extra power within that midfield because I think technically we’ve got some brilliant players,’ he said. ‘I think we just need that slightly different profile, which we need in certain games.’
There is also the possibility that Japan midfielder Reo Hatate could leave before the window closes. Maloney described Hatate, who has scored 33 goals in 191 Celtic appearances since joining in January 2022, in warm terms while acknowledging the situation.
‘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. ‘If he does move on then he’ll remember how good a player he was for this club.’
The potential exit of Hatate adds further urgency to the club’s midfield recruitment, with Sorensen’s loan one response to that uncertainty.
Celtic have also been linked with Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joel van den Berg. Maloney said he hopes another left-back can be signed to provide competition for Scotland international Kieran Tierney.
‘Kieran’s started the season really well. You never quite sure how this season’s going to go with all the World Cup guys because of such a short break. We need that back-up in that position. We need somebody to keep challenging KT,’ Maloney said. ‘That’s a position that we’ve really needed to fill and with the right type. We need the right profile of player in there.’
On the prospect of signing 18-year-old Chelsea forward Shim Mheuka on loan, Maloney was guarded. ‘It’s pretty difficult to talk about’ prospective signings, he said, adding that ‘nothing’s confirmed with anyone’. ‘Any signing in that striker area, it’ll either transpire in the next 24, 48 hours, or we’ll just go as we are,’ he added.
The club’s summer business has included outgoings as well as arrivals. According to BBC Sport, Johnny Kenny has signed a four-year deal with Preston after ending last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers, reducing Celtic’s attacking options and adding to the case for further incomings before the window shuts.
Celtic‘s Europa League squad must be registered by 23:59 on Wednesday, with Maloney confirming the club will focus its remaining activity on filling the positions identified as priorities before that cut-off. Parma‘s Sorensen is the latest arrival as the club’s transfer activity enters its final hours.
