Image source, SNSSlovan Bratislava (home) - 18 September, 20:00
Borussia Dortmund (away) - 1 October, 20:00
Atalanta (away) - 23 October, 17:45
RB Leipzig (home) - 5 November, 20:00
Club Bruges (home) - 27 November, 20:00
Dinamo Zagreb (away) - 10 December, 17:45
Young Boys (home) - 22 January, 20:00
Aston Villa (away) - 29 January, 20:00
Midfielder Luke McCowan will be "a very positive addition" to the Celtic squad says Brendan Rodgers as the former Dundee midfielder joins on a three-year-deal.
The 26-year-old was the Dens Park side's player of the year and players' player of the year and has been captain this season in the absence of Joe Shaughnessy.
It's an undisclosed fee for the in-demand man who also had interest from Hibernian.
"We are really happy to welcome Luke to Celtic," the manager told club media.
"He is a player with great ability, energy and commitment and we are sure he will be a very positive addition to our squad."
Image source, SNSTomoki Iwata has left Celtic for Chris Davies' Birmingham City on a permanent transfer.
The midfielder joins Ranger's Scott Wright, who signed for former Parkhead assistant manager Davies' side earlier today.
The Japan international has failed to secure a consistent role in the first team at Parkhead, but made 42 appearances for the club.
Iwata also joins Scotland international striker Lydon Dykes who completed a move to St Andrew's this week from Queens Park Rangers.
Image source, SNSJack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSArne Engels in action during a Euro Under-21s qualifier between Scotland and Belgium last year
So, just what can Celtic fans expect from their record signing Arne Engels?
In 51 Bundesliga appearances for Augsburg, the 20-year-old midfielder scored three times and provided nine assists. Notably, all three of his goals last season were winning strikes.
Bundesliga commentator and German football expert Derek Rae says Augsburg have "polished" the 20-year-old after signing him from Club Bruges' reserve side, Club NXT, in January 2023 for a paltry reported fee of €100,000.
Posting on X, he said: "Engels to Celtic is a good deal for Augsburg who paid very little for him from Bruges but have polished him and now get the reward.
"Celtic get a technical player not quite the finished article but will help them a lot."
A central midfielder who can venture forward too, Engels has been called up this week to the Belgium squad for their upcoming Nations League games against Israel and France.
On where he plays, Rae adds he has been mostly deployed as a defensive midfielder but the "transition has started" to use him in a more advanced role as a number 10.
It's easy to view the incoming Engels as a direct replacement for Matt O'Riley, but the Belgian has not yet reached the level of prolific coring as the Denmark international.
Having already been transformed from a €100,000 player to one of roughly a hundred times that, Brendan Rodgers will be hoping he can have a similar effect on the young midfielder.
Or as Rae puts it: "I think you should look at [it] like this. He’s already good but with even greater potential to improve. That’s exciting, no?"
Image source, Getty ImagesArne Engels is a signing of "real quality" says Brendan Rodgers as the Belgian midfielder joins on a four-year-deal.
The 20-year-old joins from Bundesliga side Augsburg, where he made 53 appearances after starting his career at Club Bruges.
The Celtic manager expressed his delight at signing the under-21 Belgium international - who received his first full call-up earlier this year - and said his style will "suit" Celtic's.
“We are delighted to bring Arne to Celtic," he told club media.
"He is an exciting young player of real quality who has already made his mark at a really high level in the Bundesliga.
"He has a wide range of attributes which will allow him to play a number of positions in midfield, so we feel he is an excellent acquisition for the Club. I think Arne’s style of play, his energy and his technical ability really will suit our game model.
"While Celtic will always be our priority, it is fantastic too that Arne is now receiving full international recognition within a top Belgian squad, something he is very deserving of."
Image source, Getty Images"Ecstatic" Auston Trusty says it is a "dream come true" to sign for Celtic.
The United States defender, 26, has moved to the Scottish champions from Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee, signing a five-year deal.
Trusty, who has two caps, told Celtic TV: "I feel ecstatic. It’s just such an historic and amazing club, and it’s a club I’ve known about since I was a little kid.
"Growing up in Philadelphia, football wasn’t such a popular sport but I knew Celtic, I knew who Celtic were. It’s a dream come true to join this club and such a massive organisation.
"The manager told me to be the best that I can be, that’s off the pitch, as a team-mate and everything on the pitch. He said that he believes in everything I can do."
Trusty made 37 appearances for Sheffield United last season after a £5m move from Colorado Rapids.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers said the left-sided centre-back is a "welcome addition", adding: "He is a quick, strong, athletic defender with great ability and good experience and a player who has done really well to make his way to the USA national squad."
We asked for your views on where Celtic still need to strengthen and what deals you would like completed before the transfer window closes.
Here's what some of you said:
Charlie: I still think we need a centre-half, there's cover but not quality. We need one more player that will light Europe like Henrik Larsson.
Shaun: I still want a striker as cover for Kyogo Furuhashi, as he is a shoulder charge away from being three months out. I’d also like a winger as James Forrest is not as good and certainly not for the Champions League.
Jim: We should sign Lennon Miller, then loan him back to Motherwell for the season and also take Luke McCowan from Dundee and get him settled before Reo Hatate creates problems with transfer waves.
Pete: We strengthened the squad finally but another striker would be good and a good winger.
Graham: Another centre-back is a must for the Champions League campaign. Arne Engels is a good signing but another centre midfielder or attacking midfielder and development striker would be a good end to the transfer window.
Colin: We need four players to strengthen the first 11 if there is ambition to perform better in Europe. A centre-back to play alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers, a tactically sound defensive midfielder, a creative midfielder to help replace Matt O'Riley and a quality forward to cause better teams problems.
Image source, SNSManager Brendan Rodgers has welcomed Celtic's "brilliant" Champions League draw after using pre-season fixtures against English Premier League opposition to try out tactics he wants to use on the biggest European stage.
Rodgers' side beat Manchester City 4-3 in North Carolina before thrashing Chelsea 4-1 in Indiana as part of their US tour.
"We tried some things in pre-season against Man City and Chelsea that worked well for us, knowing that we were up against a calibre of opponent that will ask different questions of us," Rodgers said.
"We looked at a couple of things in that game, tactically just slight little tweaks and adjustments that can work well for us.
"This is what I love about this team - the constant evolution of the game, the learning, the improvement.
"They're more accustomed to me now, and what I demand and what I want, so there's a real focus and clarity around everything that we're doing and I think then you see that on the pitch."
Celtic have been drawn against Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Atalanta, Club Bruges, Young Boys, Dinamo Zagreb, Slovan Bratislava and Aston Villa in the Champions League.
"I thought it was absolutely brilliant," Rodgers said of the draw. "The teams that we've got - absolutely fantastic. We're playing against a Champions League finalist, we're playing a Europa League winner, among the other teams.
"It's so exciting from a manager's perspective, from the players, we get a chance to play against the best in Europe. We've also got some really, really exciting cities for the supporters to go to.
"But of course, we're here for the football and we also want to make a mark in that."
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSHibs have submitted a fourth bid to Dundee for midfielder Luke McCowan.
The Easter Road club are now vying with Celtic for the signing of the 26-year-old before the transfer window closes at 23:00 BST.
Champions Celtic have made an offer and been in talks with the Dens Park club but but no deal has yet been reached.
Image source, SNSBrendan Rodgers believes Celtic will secure "a number of signings" before the end of the transfer window at 23:00 BST and emerge with a stronger squad.
Celtic are set to sign Augsburg midfielder Arne Engels and Sheffield United defender Auston Trusty and have also made an offer for Dundee midfielder Luke McCowan.
"We're in a really good place in terms of that and we hope by the close of the market this evening we'll have a number of signings sealed and making our squad stronger," manager Rodgers said.
"That's always the goal that we had when we entered into this window - we want to make the team and squad stronger and hopefully we can close the market and that is the case.
"I don't want to pick any names until they're signed, but that's the aim. We don't want to just regenerate the squad. We want to improve the squad."
Rodgers has added five players to his squad this summer, albeit two of those - Adam Idah and Paulo Bernardo - were loans made permanent.
"There's been a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes," added Rodgers.
"Things sometimes don't happen until later on, either through availability or a club not wanting to sell a player. But there's been a lot of movement in the last four or five days. The club have been great in terms of trying to push these deals through.
"Quality always takes a little bit of time. We wanted to improve. That was the key. I don't want to take away from the guys that have been here, [who have] been brilliant for me in this opening part of the season."
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSCeltic have made a bid for Dundee midfielder Luke McCowan.
No deal has yet been agreed but the champions are hopeful of the securing the 26-year-old's signing before the deadline at 23:00 BST.
McCowan, who is in the final year of his contract, was previously linked with a move to Hibs this summer.
He has made 123 Dundee appearances and scored 28 goals - including three in eight this season - since joining from Ayr United three years ago.
Image source, SNSCeltic boss Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Sunday's derby meeting with Rangers.
Here are the key points:
Rodgers hopes to have secured "a number of signings" by the close of the transfer window this evening.
However, the manager refused to be drawn on names like Arne Engels and Auston Trusty, who are both set to sign for Celtic.
Rodgers also confirmed that any player who does sign tonight "could be" involved in the derby on Sunday.
On the derby, Rodgers says he "always expects a challenge" from Rangers and insists Celtic won't "turn up thinking they'll win".
The manager called the Champions League draw "absolutely brilliant," and talked up the calibre of the opposition, insisting Celtic want to be "competitive" in the competition.
Rodgers revealed Cameron Carter-Vickers is "fine" and only missed training on Friday due to a scheduled "recovery session".
We asked for your views on Celtic's Champions League draw.
Here's what some of you said:
Tom: It's a good draw, of course there's no easy ties at this level and it's time to right our poor recent European performances, but I believe we can progress. This is where you want to be and we have eight exciting ties home and away.
Paul: None of the glamour sides of European football are in Celtic's section in this year's new format, but last season's Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund will be their toughest game for sure. l cannot see Celtic winning any of their away matches, and will ultimately struggle throughout with early elimination - the most likely scenario.
Steven: It would be nice to see if they can at least reach the play-off round. They must start winning their home ties if they want to start improving their European efforts. Here's hoping Brendan Rodgers can start changing our pedigree in Europe.
John: Superb draw for Celtic with every home game winnable, no doubt challenging away. Rodgers will have his troops ready this season.
Graham: It is a brilliant draw for Celtic, the new format and the teams we have been drawn against provide a real chance to progress. I know some will say not enough glamour, but glamour does not provide three points.
Alex: This is a good draw for us - some tough games but we got the best pick of the pot one teams. If we can bring in the right signings, we can make sure we progress this year and make the knockouts as a minimum.
John: This is a reasonable draw for Celtic, it could have been a lot worse but in saying that going to Dortmund and Atalanta could be frightening. Celtic can get something from Villa and Zagreb.
Dougall: Very tough away games, doable home games, Scotland's sole representatives Celtic can get through these eight games with some degree of pride and a happy middling 12 points are achievable, hopefully more.
Image source, SNSFormer Celtic boss Martin O’Neill says domestic success is not enough for the club and they must look to reach the Champions League knockout rounds.
"That would be lovely and I think that would be the ambition," said O’Neill.
"They’ll be looking to do better than they did last year for a start and the last couple of years.
"Results in European football are something that all Celtic fans would want to be improved.
"There were parts of last season’s Champions League campaign that looked half-decent, so that’s something that Brendan Rodgers will be looking forward to.
"It looks as if they’ve got the upper hand domestically. Is that enough from a managerial viewpoint? I’m not sure. You want to be able to compete in Europe.
"All Celtic teams should be aspiring to greater glory and that comes from European football."
Former midfielder Stiliyan Petrov can’t wait for the Champions League meeting of two of his former clubs when Celtic visit Aston Villa.
"It's two clubs with great history and I'm really looking forward to that one," the ex-Bulgaria international said.
"I think the draw overall was great. My two favourites will be Villa and Celtic but my favourite (to win the competition) will be Real Madrid."
Image source, SNSAsim Rabini of the A Celtic State of Mind podcast thinks their Champions League draw is the best it could have been.
The Scottish champions have home games against RB Leipzig, Club Bruges, Young Boys and Slovan Bratislava and away matches against Borussia Dortmund, Dinamo Zagreb, Atalanta and Aston Villa.
"Prior to the draw you always kind of look at the options and make your choices of who you'd like to get and I think it's safe to say for lot of Celtic fans could barely have handpicked a more favourable draw," Rabini told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"Barring Aston Villa, who are probably one of the best of the pot four teams, we pretty much avoided all the big hitters.
"In the past maybe you've looked for some glamour ties but I think given where Celtic are in Europe at the moment and our struggles in recent seasons, I think we all just wanted a draw where we felt we could compete in winnable ties.
"You look at the draw and you feel that we've got a really good chance if we can strengthen the squad today hopefully as we all want to."
Celtic will play £11m to Augsburg to sign midfielder Arne Engels, 20, and the German club will have a 20% sell-on clause included in the deal. (Sun), external
However, Celtic are no longer pursuing a deal to sign Lausanne Sport midfielder Alvyn Sanches, 21. (Football Scotland), external
Birmingham City may launch a deadline day bid to sign Celtic midfielder Tomoki Iwata, 27. (Sun), external
Image source, SNSMatt O'Riley has expressed gratitude for his time at Celtic and says he will "forever support" the club.
The midfielder this week made the switch to Premier League side Brighton for a club record £25m fee after two-and-a-half trophy-laden years at Celtic Park.
"This isn't an easy message to write but I just wanted to express how grateful I am to have been able to represent this special football club," O'Riley, 23, said on social media, external.
"I've been fortunate enough to be in an environment and team full of great people. All my team-mates and the staff made it easy for me to settle in right from day one and feel part of the family.
"The joy I have experienced when wearing the badge and playing in front of you guys is one like no other.
"Every game was an absolute privilege to be a part of and I'm thankful I got to be at the club during a successful period.
"When they say it's a club like no other, it truly is. You guys are one of a kind and it is a credit to all of you for providing such an amazing atmosphere week in, week out.
"Thank you for letting me share these times with you. I will forever be a Celt and I will forever support the club."
Denmark international O'Riley is set for ankle surgery after his Brighton debut was cut short by a "bad injury" on Tuesday night.
Image source, SNSNew Celtic loan signing Alex Valle has declared himself "really happy" with the club's Champions League draw.
Valle, who joined from Barcelona earlier this week, watched with members of staff at Celtic Park as his new side landed home games with RB Leipzig, Club Bruges, Young Boys and Slovan Bratislava and away ties at Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb.
"I think it's a good group," said the 20-year-old Spaniard.
"It's an opportunity to be competitive. We will face it with hard work as always.
"It's obvious that every team in the Champions League is there because they are really competitive and every game will be very difficult.
"We will have to work really hard to achieve another stage."
