Celtic have signed Stefan Scepovic 24 hours after the Serbia striker pulled the plug on a move to Celtic Park.
The 24-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the Scottish champions despite leaving Celtic in the lurch going into the final day of the transfer window.
Celtic were also trying to complete the loan signing of John Guidetti, the Manchester City striker, last night after letting Teemu Pukki, Amido Baldé and Holmbert Fridjonsson, the forwards, leave the club on a temporary basis.
Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive, expressed deep disappointment with Scepovic after his initial U-turn.
But he was happy to revisit the deal after Scepovic saw a move from Sporting Gijon to Getafe fall through, apparently because the Spanish club were not allowed to sign the player under financial fair play rules.
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Speaking early on transfer deadline day, Lawwell told Sky Sports News: “Last night we were told he didn’t want to come, he had changed his mind, which was extremely disappointing.
“We spent a lot of time on it. We’d agreed with the club and himself. We were just at the point of signing the contract, he’d got his work permit, he’d gone to Paris on Friday to have an appointment with the embassy, which went well. The plan was he was going to go back and pick it up today.
“He passed his medical on Saturday. I spoke to him on his way back from his medical on Saturday afternoon and everything was fine.
“So we were bitterly disappointed and we don’t understand it.”
Guidetti, a 22-year-old Swede, arrived at Celtic Park late yesterday evening for talks. He scored 20 goals in 23 games during a loan spell at Feyenoord in 2011-12 and made his Sweden debut during that time, but illness and injury ruled him out for a lengthy spell and his next first-team action was six substitute appearances with Stoke City on loan in the second half of last season.
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Both Pukki and Fridjonsson have joined Brondby on a season-long loan deal while Baldé, the Portuguese forward, has joined Beveren, the Belgian club, also for the season.
Celtic held on to Virgil van Dijk on the day the defender earned his first Holland call-up for a friendly against Italy and European Championship qualifier against the Czech Republic.
Another player leaving Celtic is Dylan McGeouch, who has moved to Hibernian on loan until the end of the season.
Hibs, who failed in a bid to re-sign Leigh Griffiths on loan from Celtic, have also brought in Jake Sinclair, the 19-year-old Southampton striker, on a season-long loan.
His signing came after it was confirmed that Faird El Alagui, the Hibs forward, had ruptured his Achilles tendon, which will keep him out for most if not all of the season.
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Ross County have re-signed Michael Gardyne, the Dundee United forward, on loan until January 19, and have also completed the signing of Darren Barr following his release from Kilmarnock.
Partick Thistle have signed Nathan Eccleston, the 23-year-old former Liverpool and Blackpool striker.
The forward, who has signed until the end of the season, made nine first-team appearances for Liverpool, also playing on loan for Huddersfield Town, Charlton Athletic and Rochdale, before spending two years at Blackpool.
Falkirk have signed Joe Shaughnessy, the Aberdeen full back, on loan until January and David Smith, the winger, from Heart of Midlothian on a two-year deal.
Hearts have loaned Gary Oliver, the striker, to Stenhousemuir until January while Lee Hollis, the goalkeeper, has left Tynecastle following a short spell as emergency cover.
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Two players departed Dundee. Kyle Benedictus, the centre back, has joined Barry Smith, his former manager, at Alloa Athletic on a season-long loan while Grant Adam, the goalkeeper, has left the club after a short stint as cover.
Rangers loaned out four young players who have gained first-team experience. Calum Gallagher, the striker, has joined Cowdenbeath, their Scottish Championship rivals, on loan until January.
The 19-year-old scored on his Rangers debut against Dunfermline in March and made five appearances before the end of the season, but has not featured in the new campaign.
Robbie Crawford, the midfielder, who made 45 appearances before finding himself unable to break into the first team this season, has joined Morton on loan for four months.
Daniel Stoney, the defender, has joined Stranraer and Luca Gasparotto, the centre back, has moved to Airdrie.
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A fifth Rangers player, Craig Halkett, has signed for Clyde until January while Barry Ferguson, the manager, has also brought in Euan Smith, of Kilmarnock, on loan.