Celtic 2025/26 Season Preview: Transfers, Predicted XI, Title Defence | OneFootball

Fresh off winning a record-equalling 55th Scottish Premiership title, Celtic head into the 2025/26 season as odds-on favourites to defend their crown.

Brendan Rodgers’ men have been head and shoulders above the rest of the pack for the best part of the 21st century, with last season’s success marking their fourth consecutive league trophy.

Arch-rivals Rangers never truly tested the Hoops’ credentials in 2024/25, as Celtic strolled to the top with 92 points, leaving the second-placed Gers 17 behind.

However, an unexpected defeat to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final denied Rodgers his first domestic treble since returning to Glasgow in the summer of 2023.

Despite failing to make a standout result in the Champions League, they at least advanced into the knockout stages for the first time since the 2012/13 season.

Though they remain heavily fancied to complete a quintet in the Premiership, Rodgers’ ultimate task will be to lead Celtic to a more prominent result in Europe.

Here is our Celtic season preview for 2025/26.

Celtic Fixtures

The joint-record Scottish champions embark on their title-defending campaign against perennial strugglers St Mirren at Parkhead on August 3 (see all Celtic fixtures here).

It should be a routine win for Celtic and serve to prepare them for a more daunting task on Gameweek 2 when they head to the Pittodrie Stadium to take on Aberdeen.

A routine home victory over Livingston in round three may be what the doctor ordered for the Hoops, who then face bitter rivals Rangers.

The first Glasgow derby of the 2025/26 season takes place at Ibrox, with the second edition of this fixture at this stadium scheduled for late February 2026.

Celtic will host their fiercest title competitors in their opening league game of 2026, with the Gers arriving at Celtic Park on January 3, only a few days after their final match of 2025 against Motherwell.

Rodgers’ charges finish the post-split campaign against day-one opposition St Mirren on home turf.

Manager

Things may not have worked well for Rodgers in the Premier League, especially at Liverpool, but he has become an iconic figure in Glasgow.

During his first stint at Celtic between 2016 and 2018, the 52-year-old won back-to-back domestic trebles before leaving for Leicester City.

Upon his return in 2023, Rodgers has picked up where he left off, leading the Hoops to three successive league triumphs.

He has won 11 major domestic titles with Celtic, making him the third most successful manager in club history, behind Jock Stein and Willie Maley.

Rodgers will try to add to his impressive tally in 2025/26, particularly with no domestic side posing a serious threat to Celtic’s dominance in recent years.

However, the transfer market will play a crucial role in their pursuit of success this season.

Transfers

Replacing forward Nicolas Kuhn is no small feat, as he joined Serie A outfit Como for a reported fee of £16.3 million after a remarkable season at Celtic.

Kuhn was Celtic’s marquee performer last term, racking up 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances in his first and only season in Glasgow.

After three impressive years at Nordsjælland, Benjamin Nygren has joined Celtic on a four-year deal and will take over the number eight shirt previously worn by Kyogo Furuhashi.

Nygren should fill the void left by Kuhn’s exit, but the club will not put the brakes on their spending spree after losing two star players in less than a year.

Kieran Tierney has returned to his old stomping ground after six years at Arsenal, penning a five-year contract in June after the Gunners refused to extend his deal.

Tierney’s arrival should compensate for the departure of Greg Taylor, who moved to PAOK as a free agent.

Meanwhile, Celtic have become famous for signing Japanese starlets, and this transfer window has been no different.

Shin Yamada and Hayato Inamura have arrived at Parkhead to join forces with long-serving stalwarts Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate.

Starting XI

Rodgers rotated his tactics last season, but Celtic primarily operated in a 4-3-3 formation, occasionally switching to a 4-2-3-1 when needed.

Veteran goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel enjoyed a superb maiden season in Glasgow and should keep his place between the sticks.

Tierney’s career in London never took off, but he should have a guaranteed starting berth here, with Alistair Johnston likely to play on the opposite flank.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales were the usual centre-back pairing in 2024/25 and will likely continue to anchor the heart of the defence heading into the new campaign.

Despite being 32, captain Callum McGregor remains the focal point of Celtic’s midfield. However, after an indifferent first season in Scotland, all eyes will be on Arne Engels.

Paulo Bernardo is the front-runner to take the third remaining place in the engine room, but watch out for Luke McCowan, who impressed last term.

Adam Idah will lead the line again, with Maeda and Nygren expected to operate on the wings.

(4-3-3): Schmeichel; Tierney, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Johnston; Bernardo, McGregor, Engels; Maeda, Idah, Nygren.

Star Player

Inconsistency plagued Idah’s output in 2025/26, but with Kuhn gone, he should have more freedom but also responsibility in attack this term.

The 24-year-old striker netted 20 goals in 54 matches but only eight in 30 Premiership outings.

However, Idah should be Celtic’s biggest attacking threat in 2025/26, and with quality delivery, the towering centre-forward could hit new scoring heights despite a rough pre-season.

Prediction

Anything other than a 56th league title would be a disaster of epic proportions for the most dominant team in Scottish football.

Celtic would be naive to underestimate Rangers’ overwhelming desire to return to the throne.

However, there’s the feeling that the two Glasgow giants are on a collision course for a more dramatic title race this time.

The crown is Celtic’s to lose, and Rodgers’ side must maintain unwavering focus to fend off their rivals.

However, leadership and fans would appreciate a more convincing run in Europe as it’s been a while since the Hoops last played a major role on the continental stage.

Predicted finish: 1st