Celtic made a last-minute move for Dundee midfielder Luke McCowan, capping off a dramatic transfer deadline day that also saw them break their record transfer fee.
The Scottish champions announced McCowan’s signing 45 minutes after the window closed, with the former Ayr United player penning a three-year deal.
McCowan, who had an impressive season with Dundee, made over 40 appearances and scored 10 goals, earning both the Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards for the 2023/24 season.
His performances were further recognised when he took over the captaincy at Dens Park towards the end of the campaign. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers expressed his delight at the signing, stating:
“We are really happy to welcome Luke to Celtic. He is a player with great ability, energy and commitment, and we are sure he will be a very positive addition to our squad.”
Earlier in the day, Celtic secured the signing of Arne Engels from Bundesliga side Augsburg for a reported £11 million, a deal that marked the club’s record transfer fee.
Engels, a 20-year-old midfielder, had recently been named in the Belgium squad, and Rodgers was full of praise for the youngster. “His style of play, his energy and his technical ability really will suit our game model,” said Rodgers, confident that Engels will be a key asset for the team.
The deadline day also saw the arrival of United States centre-back Auston Trusty from Sheffield United on a five-year deal, further strengthening Celtic’s squad as they aim to defend their Scottish Premiership title.
On the departure front, Mikey Johnston left Celtic Park to join West Brom, while Tomoki Iwata moved to Birmingham City. Both players made permanent moves, seeking regular playing time elsewhere.
Rangers were also active on deadline day, securing the services of Albanian international Nedim Bajrami from Sassuolo on a permanent deal just before the 11 pm deadline. Additionally, they brought in Dutch defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo from Feyenoord on loan, with an option to buy next summer.
Rangers also saw some departures, with Scott Wright joining Birmingham for an undisclosed fee and Todd Cantwell signing a three-year deal with Blackburn Rovers.