Celtic

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Demands at Celtic will ensure "there are no let-ups" for the squad as they prepare for the new season with the "same hunger and desire" to be successful, says assistant coach John Kennedy.

Despite ending last term with a painful Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen, Brendan Rodgers' men still finished the campaign with a Scottish Premiership title and League Cup trophy.

The Parkhead side also progressed to the knockout stage of the Champions League and ran Bayern Munich close before being eliminated from the competition by the German giants.

Reflecting on the past season, Kennedy told Celtic TV: "The guys were superb, they put everything in to it. We can look back on a lot of positives, take a lot from that and be positive going into this season again.

"It's good to reflect on that and come back in with the same hunger and desire to be successful again, because that's what the club demands, there are no let-ups."

Celtic are back in pre-season training and return to action on Friday when they make the short trip to face second-tier Queen's Park.

The Premiership champions also face Cork City, Sporting Lisbon, Newcastle and Ajax as part of their preparation for the new campaign.

Looking ahead to that schedule, Kennedy added: "Early on it's very much about the physical aspects, returning to our game model, our intensities, making sure we get all the work into the guys.

"We don't concentrate too much on the results, but in terms of how the players went through pre-season last year, the results, it naturally gives a bit of confidence.

"So you want that to be a part of the process, it's not absolutely vital you go in and win all the games, but there's no harm in it either."

Kalidou Sidibe, the 26-year-old midfielder who was touted as a potential £1.7m target for Celtic earlier this year, is one of five players for whom Guincamp believe they can bank sizeable transfer fees after missing out on promotion to Ligue 1, according to Foot National. (Foot National via Daily Record), external

Former Celtic and Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths has signed for semi-professional Stirling Macedonia Lions in the second-tier National Premier Leagues Western Australia after the 34-year-old ended three years with third tier Mandurah City. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

We asked you for your views after Benjamin Nygren signed a five-year deal with Celtic.

Here's what some of you said:

Gordy: A good signing and hopefully just the start - we need cover all over the pitch.

Centre back, right and left-back cover is essential and a goal-scoring centre forward, while holding onto to what we have, unless a massive offer comes in that will help buy other players.

We need to show more ambition in the transfer market this season to be successful at home and in Europe.

Denis: Nygren scored a hat-trick against Fenerbahce in Europe, and is obviously a very good signing.

Mikey: What's not to get excited about? Another Scandinavian with a clear determination to advance his career and full of positivity.

I've seen him play for Sweden and he has bags of energy and drive. Almost looks like he's a mini Daizen, but let's not burden the boy with too much expectation.

Hugh: The signing of Nygren could turn out to be a very shrewd piece of business.

He appears to be a player on an upward path and with the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, we can hopefully continue his progression.

If we can get two/three good seasons out of him then we could end up with a £30m+ asset. Either way it certainly looks like £1.5m well spent.

Jason: Nygren looks like the real deal.

It's difficult to make one's mind up based on highlight reels, right enough. He is saying the right things in the media, regarding his winning mentality, his experience and what he thinks will be expected of him while wearing the hoops.

I just hope he has the longevity to do it season after season, on a cold wet Wednesday night in the north east of Scotland!

Celtic have reached an agreement to sign defender Hayato Inamura, 23, from Japanese club Albirex Niigata. (Sponichi via The National, external)

Brentford are interested in Celtic forward Daizen Maeda. (Sportiva via Daily Record, external)

Celtic want £1m for striker Johnny Kenny after Bolton submitted a bid of £500,000 for the 22-year-old. (Sun), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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Celtic captain Callum McGregor admitted he might be a little "different" to most footballers, as he couldn't wait to get back for pre-season.

After retiring from international duty last summer, the 32-year-old did not have the extra workload of a Scotland camp after the end of a double-winning season.

"It's been a long summer - longer than what I am used to anyway," McGregor told club media. "But over the last few days, you're just eager to get back in and get back on it.

"You always have that excitement about what a new season can bring, with the opportunities and possibilities.

"It's nice to get away, refresh and take stock a little bit. Once you drive through the gate this morning, you are back to work, and the serious stuff starts now. We're looking forward to it!"

Brendan Rodgers' side now have pre-season friendly fixtures on the horizon, with Queen's Park and Cork City up first, and the captain is desperate to get back playing.

"I might be a little bit different - I quite enjoy pre-season! I was up at 7 o'clock this morning, ready to go and champing at the bit to get out the door.

"I think nowadays, pre-season the bedding in period is probably a little bit easier, like getting straight into running to be sick.

"The game has changed a little bit since then. It's the guys in the medical department who do all the screening to make sure everybody is okay.

"We had a light break-in session this afternoon, and then on Saturday the double sessions start. So, ask me again on Monday!"

Braga are in talks with Celtic over a possible deal for centre-back Gustaf Lagerbielke, but a number of Championship clubs are also said to be interested in the 25-year-old. (Sky Sports), external

Scotland Under-21 defender Matthew Anderson, 21, has completed a cut-price move to Belgian second-tier outfit Kortrijk from Celtic in search of regular first-team football. (The Herald, external - subscription required)

Rennes have cut their valuation of Kyogo Furuhashi by half to £5m as they look to offload the 30-year-old Japan forward who joined from Celtic for £10m in January. (L'Equipe via Glasgow Times, external)

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

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Benjamin Nygren "wants to be with similar-minded people who also love to win" after signing for Celtic on a five-year deal.

Sweden international, Nygren, scored 35 goals in 107 appearances for Danish side Nordsjaelland and has had spells with IFK Gothenburg, Genk and Heerenveen.

The 23-year-old has netted twice in his first four senior international appearances, which have all taken place in 2025.

"I feel amazing to have signed for Celtic, it's so nice to be here. I've been looking forward to this so much," he told the club's website.

"I'm a player who wants to create a lot of chances and go towards goal. I'm a link between the defence and the offence and I can run a lot.

"I'm an offensive-minded player but I also work hard and try to do my best in all parts of the game.

"I'm a very competitive person and this is something that I love about Celtic. It's a huge club and I love that. And, also, the winning mentality.

"I want to be with similar-minded people who also love to win.

"I had my breakthrough when I was very young, so even though I'm 23years old, I have played over 200 games. I have a lot of experience and that's what I want to bring."

Sweden winger Benjamin Nygren has joined Celtic on for an undisclosed fee from Nordsjaelland, with manager Brendan Rodgers suggesting "he's a player that I'm sure our supporters will enjoy watching".

The 23-year-old, who has signed a five-year contract, has scored 35 goals in 107 appearances for the Danish side and has had spells with IFK Gothenburg, Genk and Heerenveen.

Nygren has scored twice in his first four senior international appearances, which have all taken place in 2025.

Rodgers appears excited, are you?

Give us your thought on the signing here.

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Serie A club Como have made an approach to Celtic over a possible deal for winger Nicolas Kuhn. (Sky Italia), external

Contrary to reports in Germany, RB Leipzig have not firmed up their interest in Nicolas Kuhn, with Celtic yet to receive any bids for the 25-year-old. (Daily Record), external

Celtic have rejected a £500,000 bid from Bolton for Irish striker Johnny Kenny. (Daily Record), external

Greek side PAOK Salonika look to have won the race to sign left-back Greg Taylor, who is a free agent after leaving Celtic. (Daily Record), external

SC Braga have bid €2m (£1.7m) for Celtic's Gustaf Lagerbielke with negotiations ongoing (Fabrizio Romano)., external

Read Friday's transfer gossip in full.

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Alistair Johnston revealed he has been working with a sports psychologist to manage the "testing" pressure of living in Glasgow as a Celtic player.

The right-back swapped Montreal for Parkhead in January 2023 and has won seven trophies since moving to Scotland.

While things have appeared straightforward on the park in a Celtic shirt, the Canada international says life in the city hasn't been so simple.

"It was something that you hear about, it's a fishbowl, all these different things," the 26-year-old told OneSoccer, external.

"You never really truly feel it or can understand or grasp it until you're actually living it. I think for about the first six months to a year, I was just taking everything in, and after that, it started to weigh on me.

"I could tell performances were lagging a little bit and I just felt like I was a little overwhelmed.

"That's when I actually started speaking to a sports psychologist and they really helped me with understanding, 'okay, yeah, being out in public in Glasgow is really difficult'. You need alternate ways to just completely decompress.

"And that's when I decided I was going to move from a flat in [the west end of Glasgow] and get a house with a private garden and everything, so that we could have the dog running about and just have a bit more privacy.

"I learnt these smaller sacrifices make a big difference for me. Having your own personal space and just finding ways to get away from it."

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Celtic winger Luis Palma came off the bench to fire in a stoppage-time winner for Honduras against Curaçao at the Gold Cup.

The 2-1 victory in San Jose, California, sends Honduras into the quarter-finals of the tournament where they meet Panama.

Palma was introduced on 59 minutes and netted the decisive goal with the clock at 91 minutes.

The 25-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Olympiacos in Greece, had also been a substitute for the win over El Salvador after being removed at half-time in the opening 6-0 defeat to Canada.

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Manager Brendan Rodgers says former winger Shaun Maloney "will make a great contribution" to Celtic after returning to the club in a player development role.

The ex-Hibernian head coach had been out of work since being sacked as Wigan boss in March, but the 42-year-old is now back at Parkhead as "professional player pathway manager".

Celtic say the aim of the "hugely important" role is "developing the progression of players" at the club, and Maloney will work closely with Rodgers, head of football operations Paul Tisdale and the academy.

Maloney, who came through the Celtic ranks before playing more than 200 first-team games and winning five league titles, said: "It is a huge honour to be given this opportunity to return to Celtic, in a role which I am really passionate about.

"My aim will be to work really closely between our academy and the first team and create the very best opportunities for success, which will ultimately be represented by more and more players reaching our first team environment.

"I have been fortunate enough to follow this same pathway and I am now excited about ensuring many more young players can take this same journey."

First-team manager Rodgers added: "Shaun is someone I believe will make a great contribution to the club in this area.

"He is an intelligent guy who knows what it takes to be a successful Celtic player and I think his experience will be invaluable in this role.

"He has all the credentials to be really successful in positively developing our younger players."

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Ross Doohan has backed himself to get enough game time at Celtic to become "a mainstay" in the Scotland squad.

After being handed a surprise international debut against Liechtenstein earlier this month amid a goalkeeping crisis within Steve Clarke's squad, the 27-year-old sealed a return to his boyhood club on a three-year deal last week.

Doohan, who spent most of the past two seasons as number two at Aberdeen after leaving Parkhead to join Tranmere in 2022, is expected to start off as third choice at Celtic behind Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo.

"It's obviously going to be difficult," he said when asked about the battle to get game time with the Scottish champions. "There are two top goalkeepers at the club already and I'm buzzing to be working with them.

"I'm just looking to work as hard as I can and put my face out there. I'm hoping to push myself into the team. I know it'll be hard, but I back myself."

Doohan said he had enjoyed "a surreal couple of weeks" after landing his return to Celtic so soon after his unexpected international debut.

The keeper, who cut a summer holiday short to join up with Clarke's Scotland squad, is confident his big move can aid his quest to add to his solitary cap.

"If I get a call-up again I'm hoping I'd impress and hopefully end up a mainstay in the squad," Doohan added.

"Obviously I'm moving to one of the biggest clubs in the world and the biggest club in Scotland, so that's always going to put you in good stead.

"I just need to push myself at Celtic, hopefully get some game time and then take it from there."

Former Hibernian manager Shaun Maloney is set to return to former club Celtic in a coaching role. (Sun), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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"Matured" goalkeeper Ross Doohan admits it was "always the dream" to return to Celtic after leaving the club three years ago.

The academy graduate departed after 11 years at the club for Tranmere Rovers, where he had been on loan. He subsequently joined Forest Green Rovers and then Aberdeen.

He made over 20 appearances for the Dons in over two years and made his Scotland debut earlier this month in the friendly win over Liechtenstein.

The 27-year-old believes he has "matured" since leaving the club he'd been at since he was a teenager, adding it was "the right thing to do".

"The phone call with my agent lasted two minutes," he said, "just general chat for a minute.

"Then he just asked the question, would I be interested in coming back?

"I think I answered 'yeah' before he even finished the question. So that's how it really came about and as soon as I heard that I was just eager to get it done as soon as possible.

"I feel like I grew up here. I had been here since I was 12, 13 up until I left a few years ago. I moved school for the club, and went full time at the club. I've really spent most of my life here, so I've got a major attachment.

"I feel I've matured a lot, both on and off the pitch.

"I've got a lot more experience, and I feel my all-around game has gotten better, so I'm just looking forward to getting in and working and showing everyone that."

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Celtic are confident they can beat both Everton and Nottingham Forest to a deal to sign Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson on a season-long loan despite the 20-year-old being offered to PSV Eindhoven by the Premier League club. (Football Insider), external

Talks between Celtic and RB Leipzig over Nicolas Kuhn are at an advanced stage, with the transfer fee for the Scottish champions' 25-year-old winger likely to be at least in line with the market value of £10.2m. (Kicker), external

Having rejected an offer from Celtic for Veljko Milosavljevic, Red Star Belgrade are not ruling out a fresh approach from the Scottish champions but would expect at least £8.6m considering there is rival interest from Everton and Paris Saint-Germain in the 17-year-old defender. (Meridian Sport), external

Shin Yamada says he is concentrating on playing for Kawasaki Frontale after the 25-year-old striker was asked about newspaper reports linking him with Celtic in a deal worth £1.5m. (The National), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip in full.

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Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell paid tribute to "one of Celtic's greatest ever servants" John Clark following his death at 84.

"John's passing represents a massive loss to his own family and of course a huge loss to the wider Celtic family," Lawwell told the club's website.

"A very dear friend and colleague, John was actually a hero to me and so many others, someone who achieved the greatest feat of all in club football but did so, along with his great team mates with such grace and humility.

"That famous day in Lisbon, which John was such an integral part of, changed our club forever.

"Ever since, each player who has passed through our club has stood on the shoulders of giants and John was certainly one of those giants.

"John gave his life to Celtic both as a player and on our staff in a variety of his roles and his contribution to our great club over so many decades is immeasurable.

"John was a fantastic husband, father and grandfather. Such a warm, gentle, and unassuming man. It was an absolute privilege to have known John.

"Rightly, he will forever be regarded as one of Celtics greatest ever servants.

"He will be someone we will all miss so dearly and we send all our love, our thoughts and prayers to John's family."