Celtic sign Parma's Sorensen, with more to come before deadline
September 1, 2026 16:15
Celtic have taken Oliver Sørensen from Parma on a season-long loan that includes an option to purchase. The 24-year-old joins as the Scottish champions finalise their squad ahead of Europa League registration.
Assistant manager Shaun Maloney indicated the club are still pursuing further additions — potentially up to three or four more — before the European squad deadline later this week.
KEY CONTEXT
Sørensen moved to Parma in August 2025 after five years with Midtjylland in Denmark. His arrival is explicitly linked to the midfield vacancy created by the sale of Arne Engels to West Ham United. Celtic have already signed four first-team players in this transfer window and have been publicly linked with other targets including Wolverhampton’s Sam Johnstone and PSV’s Joel van den Berg, and there has been talk of an 18-year-old Chelsea forward, Shim Mheuka, as a loan option.
Maloney has identified the left-back position — to provide competition for Scotland international Kieran Tierney — as an area they would like to strengthen, and he acknowledged Reo Hatate could still leave despite his contributions since joining in January 2022 (33 goals in 191 appearances).
WHY IT MATTERS
Bringing in Sørensen is intended to replace the specific attributes lost with Engels’ departure and to give Celtic a different midfield profile they believe is needed for particular matches — adding pace, power and variety to complement technically strong players already at the club. Reinforcements at left-back and elsewhere would provide necessary competition and cover, especially with players returning from short World Cup breaks.
Securing any additional signings before the European registration cutoff would allow those players to be available for Celtic’s continental campaign.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether Celtic add another left-back to challenge Kieran Tierney.
- Decisions on Reo Hatate’s future and whether Sorensen permanently joins later (option to buy).
- Any further arrivals in the next 24–48 hours, including the reported links to Sam Johnstone, Joel van den Berg and a possible loan for Shim Mheuka.
- Final Europa League squad registration by Wednesday at 23:59 and the Scottish transfer deadline on Thursday at 17:00 BST.
KEY FACTS
- Oliver Sørensen has joined Celtic on a season loan from Parma, with an option to buy.
- Sørensen signed for Parma in August 2025 after five years at Midtjylland.
- Celtic have added four first‑team players this window and are pursuing more signings.
- Arne Engels was sold to West Ham United; Celtic view Sørensen as part of replacing the profile Engels offered.
- Europa League registration closes Wednesday at 23:59; the Scottish transfer window closes Thursday at 17:00 BST.