Celtic Add Oliver Sorensen as Hatate and Kenny Depart

Celtic completed three pieces of transfer business by signing Parma midfielder Oliver Sorensen on a season-long loan and selling Reo Hatate and Johnny Kenny. BBC Sport reported that Celtic's agreement for Sorensen includes an option to buy the 24-year-old after his initial campaign in Glasgow.

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Sorensen joined Parma in August 2025 following five years with Danish club Midtjylland. He becomes Celtic's fifth first-team signing of the transfer window and arrives during a significant reshaping of the Scottish champions' midfield. Hatate's departure follows the earlier sale of Arne Engels to West Ham United, leaving Sorensen as one of the players charged with replenishing that area of the squad.

Hatate has joined Burnley on a three-year contract. The 28-year-old Japan international leaves Celtic after scoring 33 goals in 191 appearances, having arrived from Kawasaki Frontale in January 2022. Celtic assistant manager Shaun Maloney described Hatate's contribution in strongly positive terms before the transfer was completed, pointing to the midfielder's performances and the trophies won during his time in Glasgow.

Kenny, meanwhile, has signed a four-year deal with Preston North End. The 23-year-old striker spent the closing portion of last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers before returning to Celtic. His permanent move to Preston places him with another Championship club as Celtic continue adjusting their attacking options as well as their midfield group.

The confirmed moves came while Celtic were still working against two registration deadlines. BBC Sport reported that the club's Europa League squad had to be submitted by 23:59 on Wednesday, while Scotland's transfer window was due to close at 17:00 BST on Thursday. Maloney said before the latest transactions that Celtic wanted to strengthen several important areas of the European squad within that timetable.

Maloney had also identified the need for another left-back to provide competition for Scotland international Kieran Tierney. He said the club was seeking particular qualities, including additional speed and power in midfield, after Engels' exit. Sorensen's arrival directly addresses part of that requirement, but the scale of the remaining recruitment was not confirmed. Celtic's completed business stands at one new midfielder and two permanent departures from the first-team group.