Celtic’s lone signing forces O’Neill to chase further reinforcements

Celtic have completed the signing of Colombian striker Camilo Duran from Azerbaijan side Qarabag, their sole summer acquisition to date, and O'Neill warned that further reinforcements are required before the Scottish Premiership campaign kicks off after Duran netted the equaliser in a 1‑1 pre‑season friendly.

Manager Martin O'Neill confirmed the acquisition of Camilo Duran from Qarabag, adding a Colombian striker to the squad. The signing arrives amid criticism of Celtic’s limited activity on the market.

O'Neill stressed that the club must add more players before the Scottish Premiership season begins. Celtic recently missed out on signing Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who instead joined Turkey’s second‑tier side Bursaspor. They also failed to retain left‑back Marcelo Saracchi after his loan from Boca Juniors expired, with the Uruguayan confirming on Instagram that a return to Glasgow would not happen.

In the pre‑season friendly against Middlesbrough, David Strelec gave the Championship side the lead before Duran restored parity with an equaliser. The Colombian has now found the net twice in pre‑season, providing an immediate boost to Celtic’s attacking options.

Supporters have voiced disappointment over the club’s limited transfer activity, suggesting it contributed to a low turnout at Saturday’s 1‑1 draw at Celtic Park.

O'Neill said, “We will bolster the squad. We are making some progress. We’ll hopefully see a couple of new faces by the time that we kick the season off.”

Duran’s early contributions give Celtic a tangible lift as they prepare for the Scottish Premiership, but O'Neill acknowledges the squad still requires additional reinforcements. For Qarabag, the transfer marks the departure of a Colombian striker who had featured for them in recent seasons.