Arne Engels, born on the 8th of September 2003 (aged 21), is a Belgian central midfielder currently plying his trade with Celtic Football Club in Scotland. Physically imposing at 6ft (1.84m) tall and weighing 11st 2lb (71kg), Engels adds a presence to the heart of midfield. The number 27 is stitched onto the back of his Bhoys jersey. On an international level, he is honoured to pull on the red, black, and yellow of the Belgian national side.
Valued approximately around £10.5m, as suggested by Transfermarkt, his contract with the Hoops is projected to run till the summer of 2028. The value he brings to Celtic on and off the pitch justifies such an investment.
Engels stepped into the world of professional football during his trainee period at Club NXT in the Belgian Challenger Pro League, back in 2015. He gained precious experience there before making the leap to Bundesliga, when Augsburg inherited his services for a nominal fee of about £100k in January 2023.
In his initial season in Germany (2022-2023), Engels was modestly introduced to the starting line-up, featuring 18 times for Augsburg. He gained momentum the following season (2023-2024), making 32 appearances and even chipping in with three goals from midfield. The 2024-2025 campaign saw him feature once as he prepared for a move that summer.
In August 2024, Engels swapped the German Bundesliga for the Scottish Premiership when Celtic came calling with a considerable offer of around £11m. That sum showcased the faith the Scottish giants had in him. Engels embraced the pressure and returned the favour. Thus far, his career in Scotland in the 2024-2025 season has seen him make a hearty impact, with 33 appearances and an impressive tally of nine goals from midfield.
Furthermore, his performances in the League Cup (one start, two substitute appearances), the Scottish Cup (three starts, one substitute appearance), the UEFA U21 Championship Qualifiers (two goals in six starts) for Belgium and the prestigious Champions League (one goal in nine starts, one substitute appearance) for Celtic, underline his growing importance to the squad-thus making Engels a prominent figure in Scottish football.
