Tottenham Hotspur Join Race to Sign Celtic Star Arne Engels (Glasgow) 2026

Key Points

• Tottenham Hotspur Entry: Tottenham Hotspur have officially entered the race to sign Celtic’s 22-year-old Belgian international midfielder, Arne Engels, as a potential replacement for exit-bound Lucas Bergvall.
• Widespread Premier League Interest: Alongside Tottenham, English top-flight clubs including Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Sunderland, and Crystal Palace are actively monitoring the player’s situation.
• Championship & European Pursuit: Championship side West Ham United, along with European heavyweights AC Milan, Napoli, Lazio, Roma, and Borussia Dortmund, have all registered interest in the midfielder.
• Transfer Valuation: Whilst Celtic previously set a £25 million price tag and rejected 11th-hour bids from Nottingham Forest in January, reports indicate the Scottish champions may be prepared to accept an offer slightly under £25 million to fund incoming transfers.
• Player Stance & Representation: Engels has expressed a desire for a new challenge, changing his agency representation from Wasserman to DWMA to facilitate a transfer following the summer window.

Celtic FC (Glasgow Express) July 24, 2026 – Celtic midfielder Arne Engels has emerged as one of the most sought-after properties in the summer transfer window, with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur becoming the latest major club to enter the race for the Belgian internationalist. As reported by Teamtalk and verified by OneFootball, Tottenham Hotspur are actively considering the 22-year-old as a candidate to reinforce their midfield options amidst potential squad departures. The development comes as European powerhouses AC Milan, Napoli, Lazio, and Borussia Dortmund, alongside English rivals Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, and West Ham United, maintain close tabs on the player’s availability ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Which Premier League Clubs Are Pursuing Celtic Midfielder Arne Engels?

The demand for Arne Engels across the English top flight has intensified significantly following his key role in Celtic’s domestic double-winning campaign. As reported by Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur are “the latest club to join the race” for the Belgian midfielder. O’Rourke revealed that Celtic face an increasingly difficult task in retaining the player this summer, noting that

“Engels himself would be interested in the move away if a move to the Premier League comes up.”

In addition to Tottenham Hotspur, established Premier League entities continue to press for his signature. Nottingham Forest, who submitted late bids of up to £25 million during the January transfer window, retain a firm interest under manager Oliver Glasner despite recently securing Austria international Xaver Schlager on a free transfer. Furthermore, reports from Teamtalk highlight that Fulham, Sunderland, and Crystal Palace remain in contact with the player’s camp.

Crystal Palace, who failed to reach a financial agreement with Celtic in previous discussions, are understood to be monitoring developments closely as negotiations evolve. Relegated Championship side West Ham United have also joined the list of suitors seeking to entice the Belgian to London.

What Position Does Tottenham Hotspur Hold in the Race for Arne Engels?

Tottenham Hotspur’s entry into the race comes as manager Roberto De Zerbi seeks to further refine his central midfield unit.

As detailed by Reese Morgan of The Hotspur Way, Spurs have already invested £185 million in midfield additions this summer, bringing in Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

However, with 19-year-old Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall pushing for a move away from North London to secure regular first-team football, Tottenham hierarchy view Engels as a viable, high-quality replacement.

According to Teamtalk reporting, whilst Tottenham Hotspur are credited with formal interest in Celtic’s record signee, their inquiry has not yet progressed to a concrete written offer. Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider noted that Tottenham’s interest may come as a surprise given their heavy expenditure in central areas, but stated that the club is

“showing no signs of slowing down in the transfer market”

as they rebuild following a challenging domestic season.

What Fee Is Celtic Requesting for the Belgian Internationalist?

Financial expectations surrounding Arne Engels have adjusted since the January transfer window. Celtic originally placed a £25 million price tag on the 22-year-old, standing firm against Nottingham Forest’s deadline-day proposals.

However, reports from Teamtalk indicate that Celtic management may now be willing to accept a fee slightly below the £25 million threshold in order to conclude a swift deal and reinvest the proceeds into squad restructuring.

Transfermarkt currently values the box-to-box midfielder at approximately £17 million. With Engels entering the final 18 months of his contract, Celtic hierarchy are aware that his market valuation could peak during the current transfer window.

The player has reportedly communicated his intention to seek a new challenge to the Celtic board, prompting a change in his managerial representation from the Wasserman agency to DWMA in an explicit attempt to facilitate a transfer to a top-five European league.

Which European Clubs Are Monitoring the Belgian Midfielder?

The interest in Arne Engels extends well beyond the British Isles, with continental scouts actively tracking his development. In Italy’s Serie A, AC Milan, Napoli, Lazio, and Roma have all evaluated the midfielder’s tactical profile.

Italian outlets have noted that Engels’ versatility—specifically his ability to operate as a box-to-box central midfielder, defensive anchor, or emergency right wing-back—makes him an attractive prospect for Serie A tactical setups.

In Germany, Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund have also maintained a dossier on the player. Having joined Celtic from FC Augsburg in the summer of 2024, Engels is well-known to German scouts. His transition from the Bundesliga to Scottish football demonstrated immediate adaptability, which has kept continental clubs alert to his availability.

How Has Arne Engels Performed During His Time at Celtic?

Arne Engels arrived at Celtic Park as the club’s record signing from FC Augsburg and immediately established himself as a core component of the starting eleven.

Over the course of the previous season, the Belgian international recorded seven goals and eight assists across 46 appearances in all competitions, helping Celtic secure two domestic trophies.

As outlined by Reese Morgan of The Hotspur Way, Engels’ primary strengths lie in his technical efficiency, line-breaking passing capability, and physical engine.

Naturally right-footed, his tactical discipline allows him to drive forward from deep positions while providing defensive coverage without possession. His performance metrics in European competitions further enhanced his reputation as a modern midfielder capable of competing at the highest level.

What Is the Background to This Transfer Situation?

The background to Arne Engels’ potential departure stems from a combination of strategic transfer planning by Celtic and late-window dynamic changes during previous transfer periods.

In August 2024, Celtic acquired Engels from FC Augsburg for a club-record fee of £11 million to replace outgoing midfielder Matt O’Riley. Engels adapted rapidly to Scottish football, becoming a pivotal figure in Celtic’s domestic dominance.

During the January 2026 transfer window, Nottingham Forest launched a series of substantial bids culminating in a £25 million offer on deadline day.

Celtic rejected these approaches due to a lack of time to secure an adequate replacement. Addressing the situation publicly, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill stated:

“All those bids Nottingham Forest made came in at the 11th hour, so that was just a non-goer for us at that particular stage. Then he got injured just after that. So if some things can happen a bit earlier, then maybe there’s some resignation on my part there too.”

With the player entering the latter stage of his contract structure and opting to change agency representation to DWMA, both Celtic and the player’s camp have aligned on resolving his future early in the current summer window.

What Are the Predictions for How This Development Will Impact the Affected Parties?

The potential transfer of Arne Engels to Tottenham Hotspur or another interested Premier League suitor will carry distinct structural consequences for Celtic Football Club, Tottenham Hotspur, and the player’s international career:

• Impact on Celtic FC: Securing a transfer fee near £20–£25 million would represent a significant net profit on Celtic’s initial £11 million investment. However, manager Martin O’Neill will face the tactical challenge of replacing a proven, multi-positional international midfielder ahead of their upcoming European campaign. Celtic’s recruitment team will need to reinvest a substantial portion of the proceeds immediately to avoid squad depletion.
• Impact on Tottenham Hotspur: Acquiring Engels would provide Roberto De Zerbi with dynamic tactical flexibility. Capable of filling multiple roles across the midfield and right flank, Engels would offer crucial depth alongside Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, particularly if Lucas Bergvall departs North London in search of guaranteed starting minutes.
• Impact on Arne Engels: Moving to the English Premier League or a major Serie A club would elevate the 22-year-old’s profile on the international stage. Regular exposure in a top-five European league would strengthen his standing within the Belgian national team setup as he targets a consolidated role in future international tournaments.