Celtic boss Martin O'Neill admitted that he feels a genuine sense of disappointment at the loss of Arne Engels to West Ham United, yet he recognises that the move represents an opportunity too attractive for the Belgian international to refuse. The manager explained that while the club had turned down a £25 million proposal from Nottingham Forest during the January transfer window, Engels remained eager to experience English football, and ultimately his desire to make the switch could not be ignored.
During a press briefing held ahead of Celtic's Scottish League Cup second‑round clash with Dundee United, O'Neill detailed his thoughts on the situation. "West Ham wanted him to be ready for the first day of their season, and that timing made the deal inevitable," he said.
"I’m naturally disappointed because he’s been a fantastic performer for us, but there’s only so much you can do to persuade a player when an offer like that comes along. If it hadn’t arisen, I think he would have been content to stay. Even though Nottingham Forest made a late bid in January, he never complained about that either." He continued, "It’s a chance for him and it would be extremely hard for him to turn it down." The transfer will be completed before Celtic’s Champions League play‑off first leg against LASK, scheduled for next Wednesday. O'Neill showed empathy for Engels’ ambition, noting that the midfielder’s desire to move was understandable, especially after Alistair Johnston suffered a leg‑muscle injury and attracted attention from Everton.
The 74‑year‑old manager added, "Ideally I would have loved for him to stay and perhaps finish the two cup games, but realistically that wasn’t going to happen. There’s always a risk when a player is injured while an offer is on the table – you worry the deal could fall through. Arne was probably thinking the same thing. From a playing perspective I can see why he chose to go." Johnston, the Canadian right‑back, was forced off at half‑time in Celtic’s 5‑1 victory over Kilmarnock on Sunday.
O'Neill confirmed that the injury will keep him sidelined for several weeks, meaning he will miss the transfer deadline and be unable to join any new club this window. "He’s been very stoic about it," O'Neill said.
"It’s a shame for him, but it’s not a long‑term issue. He’ll recover and be back for us soon." In the meantime, Celtic have been active in the transfer market, securing Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan and German Under‑21 midfielder Mika Baur earlier in the week.
O'Neill hinted that more signings could be on the horizon, mentioning the possibility of bringing in Chelsea’s left‑back Landon Emmenalo on loan as cover for Kieran Tierney. Tierney, the 18‑year‑old, recently toured Celtic’s Lennoxtown training complex, impressing the coaching staff.
"He’s a very promising youngster," O'Neill commented. "We need depth in that position.
Kieran did a superb job last season after a difficult spell with injuries at Arsenal, and he’s come back strongly. This young player also has talent, although he’s dealing with a minor injury at the moment. We hope it resolves quickly, and if it does, I would love to have him on board." O'Neill’s remarks underscore the balancing act that modern managers must perform: nurturing talent, handling the business side of football, and maintaining squad depth amid injuries and transfer speculation. While the loss of Engels is a blow, the manager remains optimistic about the club’s ability to adapt, integrate new arrivals, and continue competing on multiple fronts, including the domestic cup, the league, and the upcoming European fixtures.
The Celtic faithful can continue to follow the action through various broadcasting options, with the Scottish Premiership available on NOW and live coverage on Sky Sports. As the season progresses, supporters will be watching closely to see how O'Neill’s recruitment strategy unfolds and whether the new signings can fill the void left by Engels while keeping the team competitive in both domestic and continental competitions.