Arne Engels is certainly proving his early season doubters wrong

Arne Engels arrived at Celtic with huge expectations after his record £11 million move from Bundesliga side FC Augsburg in the summer…

Nicolas Kuhn and Arne Engels
Nicolas Kuhn celebrates with teammate Arne Engels after scoring his team’s third goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on January 05, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Arne has just recently turned 21, but with over 50 Bundesliga appearances under his belt, and now a full Belgian international, he’s certainly a player with great experience and plenty of potential.

Celtic’s record breaking signing cost £11million

It would be fair to say that while doing well in his first few months he didn’t exactly look like an £11 million player, and doubts were being raised over his ability and mentality to succeed at Celtic.

I have never bought into that, and fully believed that Arne Engels would blossom into a great addition to our side and that’s increasingly looking like an accurate assessment on an exciting young talent that we should be delighted to see in the Hoops.

Arne Engels celebrates
Arne Engels celebrates scoring during the match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park, on 26th December 2024. (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

While he’s still got plenty of room to develop his game further, he’s shown in his last few games that he’s a superbly talented player. He may not be a ‘superstar’ but he’s a player with great technical ability that adds so much to our side. Heaven’s we are even starting to score from corners thanks to his wonderful deliveries. And he’s also loving living in Scotland and playing for Celtic.

Arne is going to be really special 

Some times you can just tell a signing is going to be really special and Arne is definitely one of those players. He is starting to show that on a consistent basis, and he will only continue to get better. He looks like yet another terrific signing by the club.

Arne Engels at Tynecastle
Arne Engels at Tynecastle. Hearts v Celtic, 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Arne has a great future ahead of him. We should enjoy him while we can as he is destined to be a target for clubs in the big five leagues over the coming seasons. For now he’s our player and he is going to be a real Celtic star.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Willie Fernie - Putting on the Style
Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style. Available at celticstarbooks.com
Willie Fernie - Putting on the Style
Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style. Available at celticstarbooks.com

About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

4 Comments

  1. Thank god at least 1 celtic fans media that backs the young boy.Way he’s been treated off our own fans has been a disgrace

  2. No chance of replacing O’Riley – the only way he’ll get to 20 goals is pens. Looks every inch a Big Jessie.

  3. I believe Engles is the most technically gifted player we’ve seen at Celtic Park since Henrick. Almost every game he plays a pass that Paul McStay would have been proud of but there seem to be a growing collection of diddies who don’t get it. They might be better choosing another sport in my opinion. Celtic need to adapt to Engles just as much as Engles needs to adapt to Celtic. He won’t score as many as O’Riley but he’ll dominate the middle of the pitch and dictate the play like no other player in Scottish football.

  4. Starting to look more like, that it can take a midfield player, a good half of a season, before they get up to speed, with what Rodgers is looking for from them as players for our team imo?
    Happened to Calmac and Paulo last season, and Engels this?
    And Hatate and McCowan still trying to find the consistency levels at present?
    This is where if a similar pattern was to continue, then another midfield option, should be added hopefully during this window imo?
    Possibly even moreso if Hatate is to be moving on during the summer?