The Scottish Premiership summer transfer window opened on June 15 and already a flurry of confirmed deals is reshaping squads for the 2026/27 campaign. With the World Cup on the horizon, clubs are moving early to secure free agents and streamline wage bills. Sky Sports has compiled every confirmed move so far, revealing a market dominated by end-of-contract switches and loan returns.
Free transfers are the theme of the window, as financial prudence meets a deep pool of out-of-contract talent. Aberdeen have been particularly proactive, adding three players on frees – Lewis Mayo and Brad Lyons from Kilmarnock, plus Austrian defender Alexander Briedl from Blau-Weiss Linz. However, the exits are even more striking: Graeme Shinnie has joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle, while Ryan Duncan, Vicente Besuijen, Elvis Bwomono and Tom McIntyre are all released. Loan returns see Lyall Cameron head back to Rangers, Liam Morrison to QPR and Toyosi Olusanya to Houston Dynamo. It marks a deliberate reset under manager Jim Goodwin, who is gambling on a leaner, more athletic group.
Celtic’s only move is the retirement of veteran goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, leaving a significant void between the posts. Schmeichel’s leadership and shot-stopping were pivotal in recent title successes, and his departure forces the champions to enter the market for a new No. 1. With no other incomings yet, the pressure is on to find a replacement capable of handling European demands.
Dundee’s clear-out signals a fresh start at Dens Park. Jon McCracken, Trevor Carson, Ethan Ingram and Lewis Montsma are all out of contract, while loan players Cameron Congreve and Joel Cotterill return to Swansea, Yan Dhanda to Hearts, Aldahir Valenzuela to Monterrey, Scott Wright to Birmingham City and Tony Yogane to Brentford. The mass exodus leaves managerless Dundee needing almost an entirely new spine – a daunting task with limited time.
Dundee United have secured one incoming in goalkeeper Jack Walton from Preston North End, but the outgoing list is extensive. Craig Sibbald has already joined Falkirk, while Ryan Strain, Johnny Russell, Ashley Maynard-Brewer and Kristijan Trapanovski walk as free agents, alongside loan returns for Amar Fatah, Luca Stephenson, Krisztián Keresztes and Ivan Dolcek. Squad depth is critically thin, and more arrivals are essential to avoid a relegation battle.
Falkirk’s business reflects a balancing act. They brought in Craig Sibbald (from United), Jack McMillan (Exeter City) and Scott Tanser (St Mirren) on free transfers, but lost Gary Oliver, Sean Mackie, Jamie Sneddon and Dylan Tait, while Brian Graham joined Ross County. Loans for Lewis Neilson, Henry Cartwright, Kyrell Wilson, Ethan Williams, Filip Lissah, Sam Hart, Louis Marsh and Ben Broggio all expired, leaving a core of experienced heads supplemented by younger prospects.
Hearts’ squad has been hit hardest by the loss of talisman Lawrence Shankland, who moves to Rangers on a free. His 20-plus goals per season will be almost impossible to replace directly. Also leaving are Beni Baningime, Frankie Kent, Alan Forrest, Lewis Neilson and Marc Leonard. Incomings Josh McPake (pre-contract) and MJ Kamson-Kamara (Lincoln City) offer promise but not proven quality. As one source close to the club put it, 'We knew Shankland would move on, but the timing leaves us scrambling.'
Hibernian have yet to make a signing but have shed Elie Youan at the end of his deal, with loan men Dan Barlaser, Kai Andrews and Dane Scarlett also departing. The attacking unit now looks understocked, and manager David Gray must act decisively to avoid a slow start.
Kilmarnock are the biggest losers of early window activity. They have seen Lewis Mayo and Brad Lyons follow each other to Aberdeen, while David Watson opted for Bolton Wanderers. Robby McCrorie, Matthew Kennedy, Kyle Magennis, Bruce Anderson, Marley Watkins, Kian Leslie, Zander Craik, Liam Polworth, Duncan Barlow, Ethan Mersey and Aaron Tshibola are all out of contract. Loan returns for Zac Williams, Kelle Roos and Findlay Curtis complete the decimation. Manager Derek McInnes now faces a monumental rebuild with a threadbare squad.
Motherwell and Livingston have also undergone large-scale changes. Motherwell lost Kofi Balmer, Callum Slattery, Dylan Wells, Sam Nicholson and Zach Robinson, while Andy Halliday retired and Stephen Welsh returned to Celtic. Livingston parted with Fran Franczak, Scott Bright, Jonathan Svedberg, Reghan Tumilty and Stevie Mallan; Josh McPake left for Hearts, and loans for Adam Forrester, Alfredo Agyeman, Ruari Paton and Toby Steward ended. Both clubs will be scrapping for experienced free agents to fill the gaps.
Rangers’ addition of Shankland is the headline capture of the window so far, adding a proven scorer to a side that sometimes lacked a clinical edge. Lyall Cameron also returns from his Aberdeen loan to bolster midfield options. The departure of long-serving captain James Tavernier at the end of his contract, however, removes a leader who has been central to Rangers’ identity for nearly a decade. The right-back spot now becomes a priority for manager Philippe Clement.
St Mirren round out the early deals with Scott Tanser’s move to Falkirk and the exits of Dan Nlundulu, Luke Kenny, Oisin Smyth and James Scott. Loan returns for Shamal George (Wycombe), Jacob Devaney (Man Utd), Ross Sinclair (St Johnstone) and Kion Etete (Cardiff) further thin the squad. Manager Stephen Robinson will lean on his recruitment network to find value in a competitive market.
Overall, the early summer window has been defined by wage bill trimming and strategic free agency. With several clubs completely overhauling their rosters, the 2026/27 Scottish Premiership promises to be a season of transition. How well each side integrates new signings will determine whether they thrive or merely survive. Based on reporting from Sky Sports.