West Ham Agree £22m Deal for Celtic's Arne Engels as O'Neill Concedes Defeat
West Ham have agreed a £22 million deal with Celtic for Belgian midfielder Arne Engels, with the 22-year-old set to sign a five-year contract at the London Stadium. Sky Sports
The fee would break the record for a transfer involving an EFL Championship club — West Ham, having been relegated from the Premier League, now operate in English football's second tier — and represents a remarkable return on Celtic's investment. Engels arrived at Parkhead from German side FC Augsburg in August 2024 for a club-record £11 million. Celtic FC
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, speaking to Sky Sports, admitted the offer was "really hard to turn down." Sky Sports The BBC reported a figure quoted as "O'Neill" saying Engels was "probably at this minute doing the medical," and that he was naturally disappointed the midfielder was leaving, praising the player for having "done very well for Celtic." BBC Sport
It has been a winding road to this point. West Ham had two earlier bids rejected — the first in late July, which O'Neill said "doesn't remotely meet our valuation," and a second a few days later. BBC Sport Celtic were holding out for around £25 million. Sky Sports The Scottish Sun reported on 12 August that West Ham were preparing to return with a substantially increased offer. Scottish Sun
Engels' departure is not the only business on Celtic's plate. The club signed Egypt winger Haissem Hassan and Germany Under-21 midfielder Mika Baur in the same week, while Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo could arrive on loan as cover for Kieran Tierney after being shown around Celtic's Lennoxtown training centre. BBC Sport
There is also a concern on the injury front. Canada right-back Alistair Johnston, 27, suffered a leg muscle injury and went off at half-time during Celtic's 5-1 win at Kilmarnock on Sunday. O'Neill confirmed Johnston would be out for a few weeks — past the transfer deadline by the time he returns to fitness. BBC Sport Everton had been keen on Johnston, but that interest now looks academic.
O'Neill, 74 and back at work following a medical procedure the previous week, also revealed that Nottingham Forest made a late approach for Engels in January. The player, he said, "never moaned about it." BBC Sport
West Ham are simultaneously in talks to sign 18-year-old Celtic striker Daniel Cummings on a pre-contract agreement — a deal that would bring one of Celtic's brightest youngsters to east London alongside Engels. Sky Sports
For Celtic fans, losing a player who cost £11 million barely twelve months ago for double that fee is the kind of arithmetic that softens the blow. For West Ham, the message is loud: they are spending like a club that intends to be back in the Premier League at the first attempt.
