The Old Firm derby is one of the most fierce rivalries in world football.
This historic clash between Celtic and Rangers has defined Scottish football for well over a century, and every altercation brings with it an electric atmosphere and, more often than not, genuine title implications. Together, the Glasgow giants have amassed more than 100 domestic league titles, with only a handful of teams managing to briefly interrupt their duopoly over the Scottish Premiership.
But what if that rivalry was transported to a bigger stage - the Premier League, the most-watched domestic competition on the planet?
Would both teams rise to the challenge and possibly even displace some of the strongest clubs in the country, or be exposed by the financial muscle of the elites in the country and ultimately lost in England's footballing pyramid?
To find out, GIVEMESPORT has enlisted the help of artificial intelligence (ChatGPT) to simulate exactly what would happen in both the immediate and long-term future if both Celtic and Rangers were to be shifted to the Premier League ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Key Assumptions:
Both clubs get one summer transfer window before the season starts.
They receive Premier League TV money (~£100-130m/year).
Squads are upgraded modestly but constrained by FFP.
Mid-table Premier League teams maintain their current levels.
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A Tough First Season for Celtic and Rangers
AI expects a struggle for the top half
Celtic v Rangers
Celtic and Rangers have both dominated Scotland's top-flight for quite some time - they have made up the top two in some order every season since 2018. But ChatGPT insists the gap between the best in Scotland to those in the Premier League is still quite distinct.
Celtic 2025/26 Finish: 13th
What ChatGPT said: "Celtic are slightly ahead of Rangers in terms of squad depth, European experience, and infrastructure. They would struggle defensively at first but have enough attacking talent and fan momentum to stay up comfortably."
Rangers 2025/26 Finish: 15th
What ChatGPT said: "Rangers would also survive, but less comfortably. Squad depth and reliance on a few key players (like Tavernier, if still there) could be exposed."
The Premier League's classic big six - Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham - are difficult to write-off for upper-echelon finishes next term, even though a couple have struggled to do so in recent seasons.
The likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle are also in the discussion for European spots, while Nottingham Forest, Brighton and Bournemouth are just a few of the several teams with the quality to impress if any of the aforementioned clubs slip up.
It means the chances of Celtic or Rangers competing for a top-half finish already look tough. ChatGPT suggests the first season for the Scottish pair will likely be aggravated by drastic tactical differences as well:
"Pace and pressing intensity in the EPL would overwhelm both teams at first.
Defensive line quality (particularly at centre-back and full-back) would be tested.
Neither team would be used to 38 high-quality matches vs EPL-level opponents."
However, neither Celtic nor Rangers are expected to suffer a drop to the EFL Championship, which should help platform their growth towards being a competitive opposition side in the Premier League in future seasons.
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Gradual Progression in the Premier League
Celtic and Rangers eventually break into the top half
With both clubs surviving their inaugural season in England's top-division, ChatGPT insists their access to revenue earned by playing in the competition, in tandem with their improved recruitment and academy investment, could dramatically improve their competitiveness each year.
It wouldn't be far-fetched to imagine clubs with the stature of Celtic and Rangers struggling to put long-term projects into action. With smart decisions, the likes of Brighton and Brentford have constructed together strong squads with initially lesser-known talent; the Bhoys and the Gers could replicate this, and their respective histories could help as well.
The former famously won the Champions League in 1967, while the latter lifted the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972. There is the added allure of playing for these Scottish behemoths because of their decorated pasts.
Years 1–3 (2025–2028):
ChatGPT said: "Bottom half finishes (10th–16th), consolidating survival. Begin signing mid-tier EPL-level players. Improved coaching staff and analytics."
Years 4–6 (2028–2031):
ChatGPT said: "Push into top-half finishes (7th–10th). Occasional domestic cup semi-finals. One or both might qualify for Europa Conference League or Europa League. Stadium expansion or redevelopment discussions begin."
Years 7–10 (2031–2035):
ChatGPT said: "Regular top-8 finishes. Break into top 6 potentially in Years 9 or 10. Could overtake traditional EPL mid-table clubs (e.g., West Ham, Wolves, Aston Villa) in terms of budget and profile. With smart recruitment, they might replicate the path of Newcastle post-2022 takeover (without Saudi-scale funding)."
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Celtic and Rangers Qualify for Europe in 2035
Their long-term project is rewarded
After a decade of gradual club building, Celtic and Rangers are expected to be regulars in the race for European qualification by the 2034/35 term. That wouldn't particularly be anything new, of course, given they do feature in continental competitions thanks to being the top two outfits in Scotland. Nonetheless, the achievement of doing this in the Premier League is certainly worth that little bit more.
But ChatGPT insists that it may take a little more time before the likes of Celtic and Rangers can usurp the places of the classic top six, barring the chances of an odd top four finish resemblant to what Newcastle and Aston Villa have managed in recent seasons.
Celtic 2034/35 Finish: 6th
What ChatGPT said: Stronger global brand, more stable financially, regularly in European competition. Capable of challenging for Champions League qualification in good seasons.
Rangers 2034/35 Finish: 7th
What ChatGPT said: Close behind Celtic. Strong domestic fanbase and commercial pull, but may struggle to match Celtic’s consistency or infrastructure investment.
"Both Celtic and Rangers would transform under Premier League funding, likely becoming top-8 clubs within a decade.
They wouldn't break the Man City–Arsenal–Liverpool–United–Chelsea oligopoly right away, but they could replace underperforming legacy clubs like Spurs or West Ham in European places.
A Celtic–Rangers derby in the EPL would become one of the league’s most-watched fixtures globally."
If Celtic and Rangers were in the Premier League - Season Summaries According to AI
Season
2025/26
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
2029/30
2030/31
2031/32
2032/33
2033/34
2034/35
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Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt.com - Correct as of 26/06/2025