NafisaCeltic could be preparing for a major squad shake-up this summer with several high-profile names now expected to depart following the domestic double-winning season under Martin O’Neill.
According to journalist Stephen McGowan in The Herald, transfer planning is already well advanced behind the scenes ahead of another significant rebuild.
And the report claims Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, Arne Engels and Paulo Bernardo are all expected to “spearhead a long list of exits” from Celtic Park.
Some of those departures have looked increasingly probable for months.
Maeda came extremely close to joining Wolfsburg last summer before Celtic blocked the move because they could not secure a replacement before the deadline.
The Japanese forward has since produced one of the most explosive finishing runs in recent Celtic history, scoring in seven consecutive matches as the Hoops surged to the title and Scottish Cup.
But with only one year remaining on his contract and the player openly speaking about his desire to test himself against “top-level players”, there is now a rising expectation he will move on.
Arne Engels is another player generating huge interest.
Celtic turned down three bids for the Belgian midfielder in January, with the final Nottingham Forest offer reportedly reaching around £25million.
The club held firm at the time due to the importance of the title race, but there is now a belief a bidding war could develop this summer after Engels finished the season strongly under O’Neill.
Paulo Bernardo’s situation appears much clearer.
The Portuguese midfielder has struggled for regular involvement throughout the second half of the campaign and was reportedly interested in securing a loan move away during the January window.
Instead, he stayed in Glasgow – but barely played.
Bernardo has not been included in a Celtic matchday squad since March against Motherwell and did not make the bench once during the split.
He has featured only six times in the 2026 calendar year for Celtic, making a summer exit feel almost unavoidable at this stage.
Reo Hatate’s potential departure perhaps feels the most emotional of the lot.
At his best, the Japanese midfielder has been one of the most gifted players Celtic have had in recent years.
But inconsistency this season eventually saw him drop out of the starting XI during the defining weeks of the campaign.
For a player who played such a major role across multiple trophy-winning seasons, it would be a disappointing end if this really does prove to be the conclusion of his Celtic career.
Nafisa
