🚨Premier League Star REFUSES Medical as Late Celtic Move Descends Into CHAOS

Celtic’s frantic transfer push has taken another dramatic turn as the club races to strengthen Martin O’Neill’s squad before the European registration deadline — but the latest reports do not actually support the claim that a Celtic-bound player has refused a medical. Instead, the real story is a chaotic final 48 hours involving medicals, injuries, negotiations and several potential Premier League arrivals.

With Celtic desperately trying to add quality before the European deadline, the Hoops have found themselves at the centre of one of the busiest transfer periods in recent memory.

The Scottish champions have already brought in Oliver Sørensen from Parma on loan, while deals involving Chelsea teenager Shim Mheuka, Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, PSV midfielder Joel van den Berg and Feyenoord defender Jordan Lotomba have all been moving at different speeds.

And with Celtic’s European registration deadline arriving on Wednesday night, the pressure is now enormous.

Celtic’s transfer window has suddenly exploded

For much of the summer, Celtic supporters were questioning whether the club would do enough to strengthen Martin O’Neill’s squad.

That frustration intensified after Celtic suffered a spectacular Champions League collapse against LASK.

The Hoops had established a commanding advantage in the play-off tie but ultimately crashed out of Champions League qualification, dropping into the Europa League instead.

The financial consequences were significant, with the Champions League offering considerably greater guaranteed revenue than the Europa League. 

But Celtic have now responded with an extraordinary late burst of activity.

The club confirmed the arrival of Danish midfielder Oliver Sørensen from Parma on a season-long loan, with an option to buy. 

And that appears to have been only the beginning.

Reports indicate Celtic are attempting to complete several more deals before the European registration deadline, with as many as six new arrivals being discussed. 

That is where the drama surrounding the headline comes in.

Chelsea youngster at the centre of Celtic’s late move

One of the biggest stories has been Chelsea striker Shim Mheuka.

The 18-year-old forward has emerged as a major Celtic target, with the Scottish champions looking to bring him to Glasgow on loan for the remainder of the 2026/27 campaign.

Mheuka is regarded as one of Chelsea’s most promising young forwards.

Last season, he enjoyed a spectacular campaign at youth level, scoring 18 goals in 19 Premier League 2 appearances and being named Premier League 2 Player of the Season. 

Chelsea also recently secured his long-term future by handing him a new contract running until 2033.

That makes the proposed Celtic move particularly interesting.

Chelsea clearly believe in Mheuka’s long-term potential, but the player now needs regular senior football — something Celtic can potentially provide.

Reports initially stated that Mheuka was undergoing his medical in London before travelling to Glasgow.

And this is where the reality differs from the dramatic headline.

Mheuka did not refuse his medical.

In fact, reports subsequently stated that he completed the medical before travelling to Glasgow to finalise the loan move. Sky Sports also reported that the striker had arrived in Glasgow to complete the transfer. 

So while the “refuses medical” angle makes for dramatic headline material, the confirmed reporting points in the opposite direction.

The real drama is how quickly Celtic are attempting to push multiple deals over the line.

Another Chelsea deal has been far less straightforward

While Mheuka’s move has progressed, Celtic’s pursuit of another Chelsea youngster has encountered complications.

The player is Landon Emenalo, an 18-year-old left-back.

Celtic have been interested in Emenalo for much of the summer, with the youngster viewed as potential cover for Kieran Tierney.

The move appeared to be progressing earlier in the window, but a minor injury/knock complicated matters.

Reports have indicated that the issue delayed the transfer rather than completely killing it. 

That distinction is important.

Celtic need another left-back, particularly with the club competing domestically and in the Europa League, but they cannot afford to make a reckless decision simply because the clock is ticking.

The situation surrounding Emenalo is therefore one of the major pieces of Celtic’s deadline-day puzzle.

Then came the Jordan Lotomba twist

If the Chelsea negotiations were not enough, Celtic have also launched a late move for Feyenoord defender Jordan Lotomba.

The Swiss international has emerged as a priority target as Celtic look for defensive reinforcements.

Celtic reportedly made an offer for the 27-year-old on Tuesday, with discussions continuing between the clubs.

The latest reports are particularly encouraging from Celtic’s perspective.

Lotomba is reportedly open to moving to Glasgow and was expected to travel to Scotland on Wednesday to undergo a medical and complete the necessary formalities. 

That would represent another major piece of late business for O’Neill.

Lotomba also brings European experience, having previously played against Celtic during his time with Feyenoord.

For a Celtic team preparing for the Europa League, that experience could prove valuable.

Sam Johnstone adds another Premier League connection

Celtic have also been working on a move for experienced goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

The former England international has been looking for an opportunity for regular football, while Celtic have been searching for greater competition in the goalkeeping position.

Reports indicate that Celtic have secured Johnstone on a season-long loan from Wolves. 

The move would give O’Neill an experienced option between the posts and add competition for current Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo.

It is another indication that Celtic are not simply looking for one emergency signing.

They are attempting to reshape several areas of the squad simultaneously.

Gineitis could be the biggest deal of them all

Perhaps the most significant permanent move still being discussed is Gvidas Gineitis.

The Torino midfielder has been linked with Celtic for much of the summer and is reportedly valued at around £9 million.

Celtic have made renewed efforts to secure the Lithuanian midfielder, particularly after Reo Hatate’s departure to Burnley.

Hatate’s exit has created another significant hole in midfield.

The Japan international left Celtic after making 191 appearances, scoring 33 goals and registering 31 assists during his time at the club. 

That makes the pursuit of Gineitis even more important.

Celtic do not simply need another body in midfield.

They need somebody capable of providing energy, physicality and quality while helping O’Neill manage the demands of domestic football and Europe.

Joel van den Berg is another name to watch

Celtic have also been pursuing PSV midfielder Joel van den Berg.

Reports have suggested a deal worth around £3.5 million is being worked on, adding another potential permanent signing to O’Neill’s late recruitment drive. 

If Celtic can complete that deal alongside Gineitis, Sørensen and the other arrivals, their midfield options could look considerably different from what they had only weeks ago.

The timing, however, is what makes everything so complicated.

Celtic are racing against TWO deadlines

This is the most important part of the entire story.

While the Premier League’s summer transfer window closed on September 1, Scottish clubs have additional time.

The Scottish Premiership transfer window is scheduled to remain open until 5pm BST on Thursday, September 3. 

However, Celtic have another deadline that is arguably even more important.

Because the club is competing in the Europa League, new signings need to be registered in time to be eligible for European competition.

Reports indicate that Celtic’s European registration deadline falls on Wednesday, September 2, creating an extremely tight window for the club to complete its remaining deals. 

That explains the frantic movement around Lennoxtown and Glasgow.

A player signed after the Scottish deadline may still be eligible for domestic football depending on the circumstances, but missing the European registration cut-off could prevent that player from being available for Celtic’s Europa League campaign.

For O’Neill, that makes Wednesday a crucial day.

Why the “medical chaos” headline has exploded

The medical aspect of transfers is particularly sensitive because clubs can discover previously unknown injury concerns during examinations.

The most dramatic example of this deadline period came elsewhere in the Premier League, where Folarin Balogun’s proposed transfer to Everton collapsed after a medical raised concerns and negotiations subsequently broke down.

Balogun eventually decided against completing the move. 

That situation has inevitably added fuel to the “medical chaos” narrative surrounding deadline day.

But Celtic’s own situation is different.

The evidence currently available does not show a Celtic-bound Premier League player refusing a medical.

Instead, Celtic have been dealing with:

• Mheuka completing his medical and travelling to Glasgow;
• Emenalo’s move being complicated by an injury;
• Lotomba travelling for a Celtic medical;
• Johnstone’s loan move progressing;
• Gineitis remaining a major midfield target;
• Van den Berg being pursued;
• and the club attempting to complete multiple registrations before the European deadline.

That is chaotic enough without inventing an additional medical refusal.

O’Neill’s Celtic revolution is happening at the last possible moment

There is no doubt that Celtic supporters will welcome the sudden transfer activity.

But there will also be questions.

Why did so much of this business happen so late?

The club’s Champions League failure exposed weaknesses in the squad, and Celtic are now attempting to address them while the season is already underway.

The argument from the club’s perspective will be that transfer windows are complicated and opportunities can emerge late.

But supporters will understandably wonder whether some of these moves could have been completed earlier.

The Europa League makes the timing even more frustrating.

Celtic have a genuine opportunity to make progress in Europe this season, but the club now has only hours to ensure several of its new recruits can actually be registered.

Celtic fans now face a nervous wait

The next few hours could determine whether Celtic’s late transfer strategy becomes a masterstroke or another source of frustration.

Mheuka appears to be heading through the door.

Johnstone’s arrival is expected to provide experience.

Sørensen is already confirmed.

Lotomba is moving towards his medical.

Emenalo remains complicated.

Gineitis continues to be pursued.

Van den Berg is another name in the mix.

And Celtic still have the Scottish deadline on Thursday even after the European deadline passes.

So, despite the sensational headline, the real story is arguably even more fascinating.

Celtic are not dealing with one transfer crisis — they are attempting to complete an entire wave of recruitment while the clock races towards the European registration deadline.

For Martin O’Neill, there is little room for error.

For Celtic supporters, the next few hours could bring confirmations, surprises — or potentially another last-minute twist.

And with several deals still hanging in the balance, this Celtic transfer window is nowhere near finished yet.