Arne Engels leaves Celtic with glory, silverware and great respect
Arne Engels this evening posted his goodbye message to Celtic, reflecting on the incredible moments he has enjoyed and the silverware he has helped win over his two years in the Hoops…
The Belgian midfielder signed off after making a hundred appearances for Celtic, leaving to join West Ham United in a deal that will be worth north of £25m for the Scottish Champions if the Hammers bounce straight back up into the Premier League.
Writing in Instagram Arne Engels stated:
“After two incredible years, it’s time for me to say goodbye to Celtic. I’m leaving with nothing but gratitude for the time I’ve had at this club. I’ve experienced so many special moments, lifted trophies, created unforgettable memories and had the honour of representing Celtic.
“Wearing this shirt and playing in front of the supporters has been a privilege I’ll always be grateful for. I’ll look back on my time here with great pride and carry these memories with me for the rest of my career.
“Thank you to my teammates, the staff, everyone at the club and, of course, the supporters for making these two years so special. Thank you for everything, Celtic.’
Arne Engels leaves Celtic after two seasons having made a significant impact in midfield, and his £22m move to West Ham United has made him the club’s latest major sale, following on from the likes of Nicolas Kuhn (£17m), Matt O’Riley (£22m) and Kieran Tierney (£25m) who is now of course back at Paradise.
Engels arrived from Augsburg in August 2024 for a reported club-record fee of £11m at the time and quickly became an important part of Brendan Rodgers’ midfield.
His first season was his more productive of the two with 52 appearances and ten goals, including one in the Champions League where he also achieved three assists. Engels played his part as Celtic won both the Scottish Premiership and League Cup winner.
Engels also showed that he could contribute beyond simply scoring: his delivery from set pieces, passing range and ability to arrive around the box gave Celtic another attacking dimension from midfield.
In his second season at Celtic Arne Engels made 46 appearances for Celtic scoring seven goals including a crucial equaliser against Hearts in the dramatic title decider and also in the Scottish Cup final win over Dunfermline Athletic.
Engels leaves Celtic at just 22, with his best years ahead of him perhaps at West Ham or alternatively at a future move upwards with Celtic benefiting from a sell-on clause. Celtic doubled their money on the Arne Engels deal, although Augsburg will have a financial windfall from this transfer.
Celtic seem set to replace Engels quickly but the gamble is letting such an influential player leave ahead of the Champion League play-off. That’s on Celtic but for Arne Engels he leaves Celtic with great memories and medals which he will hope to add to in the coming seasons on English football.
