Celtic have been searching for a goalkeeper all summer, and the position has become one of Martin O’Neill’s clearest transfer priorities.
Kasper Schmeichel’s retirement in May left a sizeable hole in a squad preparing to defend a domestic double and return to the Champions League.
The Dane, despite some lacklustre showings, did bring authority, experience and a proven winning mentality after replacing Joe Hart in 2024, but a serious shoulder problem eventually forced him to finish his career at 39.
His departure pushed Viljami Sinisalo to the front of the queue at Celtic Park.
Sinisalo joined Celtic from Aston Villa on a five-year contract in 2024. The Finland international had already built valuable senior experience during loan spells with Ayr United, Burton Albion and Exeter City, where he was named player of the year after the 2023/24 campaign.
|
Viljami Sinisalo’s Celtic career so far |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Competition |
Apps |
Starts |
Clean sheets |
Goals conceded |
Goals |
Assists |
Yellow cards |
Red cards |
Minutes |
|
2024/25 |
Scottish Premiership |
6 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
540 |
|
2024/25 |
Scottish Cup |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
180 |
|
2024/25 total |
All competitions |
8 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
720 |
|
2025/26 |
Scottish Premiership |
12 |
12 |
1 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1,080 |
|
2025/26 |
Scottish Cup |
5 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
540 |
|
2025/26 |
Scottish League Cup |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
180 |
|
2025/26 |
Europa League |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
90 |
|
2025/26 total |
All competitions |
20 |
20 |
5 |
22 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1,890 |
|
2026/27 |
Scottish Premiership |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
180 |
|
2026/27 |
Scottish League Cup |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
90 |
|
2026/27 total |
All competitions |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
270 |
|
Celtic career |
All competitions |
31 |
31 |
11 |
27 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2,880 |
Sinisalo has made it clear that he wants to keep the shirt, but Celtic cannot expect him to carry the entire burden over a long season involving league, cup and European football.
Ross Doohan is the only other senior goalkeeper in O’Neill’s squad, and he has not made a competitive first team appearance since returning to his boyhood club in 2025.
That lack of proven depth made another arrival essential rather than optional.
O’Neill publicly confirmed in July that Celtic were examining the market, while stressing that they could pursue either a younger goalkeeper or a more established option.
The manager needs somebody capable of pushing Sinisalo immediately, covering for injuries and handling the pressure that follows every mistake at Parkhead.
European football also raises the standard required, and that search may now be close to producing an answer.
Balazs Toth verbally agrees to join Celtic with talks advanced
TEAMtalk reports that Celtic are in advanced negotiations with Blackburn Rovers over Hungary international Balázs Tóth.
A fee of around £4 million is being discussed, with the framework reportedly agreed in principle but several details still requiring attention.
The report adds that Tóth has verbally accepted the move and wants to complete his switch to Glasgow.
Tóth joined Blackburn from Fehérvár in August 2024 and initially had to wait for regular Championship football, but later displaced Aynsley Pears and became first choice.
The 28-year-old made 35 appearances across all competitions last season, despite missing part of the campaign with a knee injury.
His importance was underlined when his Blackburn teammates voted him their Players’ Player of the Year.
Tóth has entered the final year of his contract after rejecting fresh terms, leaving Blackburn to sell now or risk losing him for nothing next summer.
Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has admitted a departure is likely, with the goalkeeper attracted by the chance to compete at a higher level.
Nothing has been signed yet, but the deal appears to suit every party, and the Bhoys apparently want it all done in the next few days.
