NafisaWest Ham United have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Celtic midfielder Arne Engels in a deal that will shatter the Championship transfer record, according to Sky Sports.
The Hammers have been pursuing the Belgium international throughout the summer, with manager Nuno Espirito Santo making the midfielder one of his priorities as he continues to reshape his squad.
Celtic had previously resisted attempts to prise Engels away from Parkhead, including two offers from West Ham that were rejected last month.
However, the situation has now changed.
The two clubs have reached an agreement over a deal worth £22 million, with Engels expected to travel to London for his medical before completing the move.
West Ham finally get Engels deal over the line
The negotiations have taken place over several weeks, with West Ham repeatedly showing their determination to secure the midfielder.
Celtic’s stance had initially been firm, particularly given Engels’ importance to the squad.
The Belgian joined the Scottish champions with significant expectations and quickly established himself as an important part of their midfield.
West Ham’s persistence has now paid off.
Engels is due to undergo his medical in London today, with the formalities expected to be completed before he becomes a West Ham player.
For Nuno, the move represents the culmination of a lengthy pursuit.
The Hammers boss had been keen to bring Engels to the London Stadium throughout the summer and has now finally got the player he wanted.
£22m deal breaks English transfer record
The financial scale of the move is particularly significant.
The reported £22m fee will make Engels the most expensive player ever signed by an English Championship club.
The previous record stood at £17.5m, which Ipswich Town paid Nordsjaelland for Sindre Walle Egeli last summer.
West Ham’s agreement for Engels therefore represents a substantial increase on that benchmark.
It also demonstrates just how highly the midfielder is regarded despite his relatively young age.
At just 22, Engels still has considerable room for development and is already a full Belgium international.
Celtic previously rejected £25m
The decision to sell Engels is even more interesting when looking back at Celtic’s previous stance.
The Hoops rejected an offer of around £25m from Nottingham Forest for the midfielder during the January transfer window.
Celtic were therefore believed to be seeking a similar figure when the summer window opened.
However, circumstances have changed.
Engels reportedly pushed strongly for the opportunity to move to England, and Celtic ultimately decided that a £22m package represented good business for the club.
That means Celtic have managed to secure a substantial return on a player who arrived at Parkhead only relatively recently.
Engels leaves Celtic after attracting serious interest
The midfielder’s performances in Scotland had clearly attracted attention from beyond the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest had previously tested Celtic’s resolve, while West Ham have spent much of the summer trying to convince the Glasgow club to sell.
The Hammers’ persistence has ultimately proved decisive.
For Celtic, losing a highly-rated young midfielder will obviously represent a blow, particularly with the new season already underway.
However, £22m gives the Scottish champions significant resources to reinvest in their own squad.
It also means Celtic have avoided allowing the situation to drag on indefinitely while retaining a substantial transfer fee.
Nuno gets another major piece for his rebuild
For West Ham, meanwhile, Engels arrives as another major piece in Espirito Santo’s plans.
The Portuguese manager has been looking to add quality and energy to his midfield, and the Belgian’s age, technical ability and international experience make him an attractive option.
The fact that Nuno pushed for the signing throughout the summer says plenty about how highly the manager rates him.
Provided Engels passes his medical without issue, the move will become official shortly.
And when it does, West Ham will have not only secured one of Celtic’s prized young players but also rewritten the English Championship transfer record in the process.
£22m for Arne Engels. Celtic’s resistance has finally been broken.
Nafisa
