Engels has scored 17 goals across 100 appearances for Celtic across two seasons. Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesAug. 14, 2026 6:26 am EDT Updated West Ham United are confident of completing a move for Celtic midfielder Arne Engels in a deal worth around £22million.Nils Koppen, West Ham’s director of player recruitment, has played a key role in pushing for the 22-year-old’s signature.Sources with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, say Koppen, appointed in July, rates Engels highly and viewed him as a top transfer target.Since joining Celtic from Augsburg in 2024, Engels has scored 17 goals across 100 appearances. He helped the Scottish club seal back-to-back league titles and has also won the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.“I think Arne’s a great player,” Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain told reporters in Celtic’s pre-match press conference earlier this month. “He’s young so still has a lot of improving that he can do which shows his potential is massive. He’s a great engine and can run all day. He’s got good qualities on the ball and he can score goals. You can see what a good player he is. I’m sure his future is very bright.”Engels, who made his debut for Belgium in 2024, would bolster West Ham’s midfield, adding to Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek, Soungoutou Magassa, Mohamadou Kante and Lewis Orford.Engels would become West Ham’s third summer signing following the arrival of Joel Veltman on a free transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion and the £5m addition of Manor Solomon from Tottenham Hotspur.West Ham start their first Championship campaign in 15 years on Sunday with a trip to Burnley.