Arne Engels undergoing medical ahead of West Ham move, O'Neill confirms

Celtic midfielder Arne Engels is undergoing a medical ahead of a proposed transfer to West Ham United, Celtic manager Martin O'Neill confirmed on 14 August 2026. O'Neill said: "West Ham wanted him to be available for the opening day of the season."

Engels joined Celtic from Augsburg in 2024 and the Scottish champions rejected a multi-million pound offer from Nottingham Forest for the 22-year-old in the winter transfer window. Engels was reported to be keen for a move to English football and O'Neill had hoped to keep him until after Celtic's Champions League play-off against LASK, with the first leg next Wednesday.

On the prospect of the transfer, O'Neill said: "I would imagine that he's probably at this minute doing the medical. Naturally disappointed, really, that he's leaving the football club, he's done very well for us. "And it's hard to dissuade him of that. If it hadn't come up, I think he'd have been happy. Even though the offer came in very late from Nottingham Forest in January, he never moaned about it at all. "So it's an opportunity for him and it's really hard for him to turn it down."

O'Neill acknowledged factors behind Engels' decision and commented on squad availability, saying: "Ideally, I'd love him to have stayed and maybe completed after the two games," the 74-year-old, who is fully back to work after a medical procedure last week, said. "It probably wasn't going to happen. You've got a concern, I suppose, with the fact that Alistair played for us when there was an offer on the table, hurt himself, maybe things like that there may disappear. "I suppose Arne was probably worried the same sort of thing might happen. From a playing viewpoint, I probably can understand that."

O'Neill provided an update on the right-back affected by that concern, confirming Alistair Johnston went off at half-time in Celtic's 5-1 win at Kilmarnock on Sunday and saying: "He'll be out for a few weeks." He added: "By the time he's fit, he'll be past the transfer deadline. He's been very stoic about it, really. "It's a shame for him, but it's not long-term. It's something that he'll get over and he'll be back."

Celtic completed the signings of Egypt winger Haissem Hassan and Germany Under-21 midfielder Mika Baur this week, and O'Neill said he expects further arrivals. One potential addition is Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo on loan as cover for Kieran Tierney after the 18-year-old was shown around Celtic's Lennoxtown training centre; O'Neill said: "I think he's a really fine young player. "Obviously we need that position covered. Kieran did exceptionally well last season, having been plagued with injuries at Arsenal. He came roaring back, which was great. "And this young man has definitely got talent. He's got a bit of an injury at the moment. We're hoping that that will clear up shortly. And, if it does, and I think it will, I'd love to have him."

O'Neill said he believed Engels was likely completing a medical at present, and Celtic's next confirmed fixture-related detail in the discussion is the first leg of their Champions League play-off against LASK next Wednesday.