Celtic Football Club has officially confirmed its squad for the upcoming Europa League group stage, revealing some significant omissions that have sparked discussions among fans and analysts alike. Notably, three of the club's summer signings will not be part of the squad, alongside the absence of Jota, who is still recovering from a serious injury sustained in April 2025.
The three players who will miss out on the Europa League action include Joël van den Berg, a promising 19-year-old defender acquired from PSV Eindhoven, and two highly-rated Chelsea youngsters, Shim Mheuka and Landon Emenalo, who have joined Celtic on loan. The decision to exclude these new arrivals raises questions about their immediate impact on the squad, particularly as Celtic gears up for a challenging campaign in the European competition.
Despite the absence of these new signings, Celtic fans were given a glimpse of Mheuka's potential during a recent domestic match against Aberdeen, where he played a part in the team's convincing 3-0 victory. Emenalo, who has joined the Scottish champions while nursing an injury, is expected to be integrated into the squad as the season progresses. Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has acknowledged the risk involved in signing a player who is not fully fit but believes it could pay off in the long run.
In a twist of fate, Callum Osmand, another key player who is currently sidelined due to an ankle injury, has made the Europa League squad despite his fitness concerns. Osmand, who scored a crucial goal in the title-deciding match against Hearts last May, is expected to miss several weeks of action. O’Neill has indicated that domestic competitions will take precedence, suggesting a strategic approach to player selection as the team navigates both league and European commitments.
Discussing the challenges of finalizing the Europa League squad, O’Neill stated, "There are obviously some very tough decisions to be made in putting this squad together for the Europa League. It’s a difficult list and, for me, the most important thing is our domestic football." He expressed disappointment over not qualifying for the Champions League but remains optimistic about Celtic's prospects in the Europa League, emphasizing the need for his new signings to make an immediate impact in domestic play.
As the Europa League group stage approaches, Celtic will look to balance their squad effectively, ensuring that they remain competitive in both domestic and European competitions. The club's full squad for the Europa League includes goalkeepers Viljami Sinisalo, Sam Johnstone, and Ross Doohan; defenders such as Alistair Johnston, Jordan Lotomba, and Kieran Tierney; midfielders including Callum McGregor and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; and forwards like Kasper Høgh and James Forrest.
With the group stage set to kick off soon, Celtic's fans will be eagerly watching to see how the team adapts to these challenges and whether the absence of key players will affect their performance on the European stage.
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