Celtic Champions League Squad Deadline Looms As Transfer Pressure Rises

Celtic will discover their Champions League Play-Off opponents on Monday, August 3, with a place in the league phase of Europe’s top competition now coming into sharp focus.

Supporters know exactly what is at stake. The 2024/2025 run to the knockout stage brought Brendan Rodgers’ side a significant financial boost, with the club banking £40.3 million before their campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion against Bayern Munich after Alphonso Davies struck in stoppage time.

The Hoops go into the play-off draw as a seeded side, although that offers no guarantee of a second leg under the lights at Celtic Park. The order of the ties depends entirely on which club is drawn first.

If Celtic fall at the final hurdle, they will not be out of Europe. Defeat in the play-off round would see them move directly into the Europa League league phase.

There are still plenty of moving parts before the draw is complete. Kairat Almaty remain a possible opponent but must first negotiate their third qualifying round tie.

The full list of potential opponents currently includes Viking Stavanger of Norway, LASK Linz of Austria, either NK Celje or Ararat-Armenia, either Aarhus or Sabah, and either Kairat Almaty or Levski Sofia.

Attention will quickly turn from the draw to squad registration.

The Squad Deadline

Celtic must submit their main 25-man Champions League squad by 10.59pm on Thursday, August 13. UEFA regulations do allow clubs to add up to two further eligible players by 10.59pm on the day before the first leg, offering some flexibility if business is completed late in the window.

New arrivals Camilo Duran and record signing Kasper Hogh will be included, but there is little doubt Celtic’s work in the transfer market is far from finished according to Martin O’Neill.

One player firmly on the radar is Mika Baur. The midfielder was absent from Paderborn’s pre-season friendly against Southampton, with the German club attributing his omission to illness.

That explanation has since been questioned, with journalist Mark Hendry reporting that illness was not the reason for Baur’s absence.

The player is understood to be pushing for a move to Glasgow, although Paderborn continue to stand by their valuation despite the prospect of losing him for nothing when his contract expires next year.

There is also uncertainty over who from the current squad will still be at the club by the time UEFA’s deadline arrives.

Arne Engels continues to attract interest, while both Reo Hatate and Alistair Johnston have also been linked with moves away during the summer window.

Johnston’s situation appears the clearest. The Canadian international remains under contract until 2029, leaving Celtic in a strong negotiating position if offers arrive. Even so, there is an expectation that an official bid could land before the window closes.

With the draw only days away and the squad submission deadline following shortly after, the next two weeks could shape not only Celtic’s Champions League campaign but also the final look of O’Neill’s squad heading into another demanding season.