Celtic boss Martin O'Neill admitted he feels a sense of disappointment at seeing Arne Engels head for West Ham, yet he recognises that the move is one the Belgian international simply cannot refuse. The Hoops had turned down a £25 million offer from Nottingham Forest earlier in the winter window, but Engels had been vocal about his desire to test himself in English football, and the West Ham proposition ultimately proved too tempting to turn away.
During a press conference held before Celtic's Scottish League Cup second‑round clash with Dundee United, O'Neill explained the situation in detail. He said, "West Ham wanted him to be ready for the opening day of the season, and naturally I'm disappointed that he's leaving the club – he's performed admirably for us." He added that persuading Engels to stay would have been extremely difficult.
"If the offer hadn't materialised, I think he'd have been happy here. Even when Nottingham Forest came in with a late bid back in January, he never complained about it," O'Neill recalled.
The manager continued, "For Arne, this is a genuine opportunity and it would be hard for anyone in his position to say no." Engels' transfer is set to be finalised before Celtic's Champions League play‑off first leg against LASK next Wednesday. O'Neill understood the player's motivations, especially after a recent injury to Alistair Johnston and growing interest from Everton. "Ideally I would have loved him to stay and perhaps complete the deal after the two games," O'Neill, now 74, said, noting that he has fully returned to his duties after undergoing a medical procedure last week.
He explained the timing, "It probably wasn't going to happen otherwise. You have a concern that when Alistair was injured after an offer was on the table, things could have changed. Arne was likely worried the same could happen to him, from a playing perspective I can understand that." Johnston, the Canada‑born right‑back, was forced off at half‑time in Celtic's 5‑1 victory over Kilmarnock on Sunday. O'Neill confirmed, "He'll be out for a few weeks.
By the time he's back, the transfer window will have closed. He's been very stoic about it, really. It's a shame for him but it's not a long‑term issue; he'll recover and be ready again." In the meantime, Celtic have been active in the market.
This week the club secured Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan and German Under‑21 midfielder Mika Baur, with O'Neill hinting that more signings are on the horizon. One potential addition could be Chelsea's left‑back Landon Emenalo, who is being considered as a loan option to provide cover for Kieran Tierney. Emenalo recently toured Celtic's Lennoxtown training complex, impressing the coaching staff.
"I think he's a very promising young player," O'Neill said. "We definitely need depth in that position. Kieran had an excellent season, especially after battling injuries at Arsenal, and he came back strongly.
This youngster also has talent, although he's dealing with a minor injury at the moment. We hope it resolves soon, and if it does, I'd love to have him on board." O'Neill's comments reflect a pragmatic approach: while losing a player of Engels' calibre is a blow, the manager recognises the professional ambitions that drive such moves.
He also highlighted the club's broader strategy of reinforcing the squad across multiple positions, ensuring that Celtic remain competitive both domestically and in Europe. Looking ahead, Celtic will need to adapt quickly to Engels' departure, relying on the newly signed players and potential loan signings to fill any gaps. The upcoming Scottish League Cup tie against Dundee United and the crucial Champions League play‑off against LASK will test the depth of the squad and the manager's ability to integrate fresh talent under pressure.
Fans can continue to follow the action on NOW, with live coverage of the Scottish Premiership available via Sky Sports. Meanwhile, the club's community initiatives, such as the Super 6 competition offering a chance to win £1 million, remain active, keeping supporters engaged off the pitch as well.