Celtic paid £11 million to bring Arne Engels from FC Augsburg in August 2024. That was a club-record fee at the time. Now the Scottish champions appear set to more than double their money, with multiple Premier League clubs and AC Milan circling the Belgian midfielder heading into the summer transfer window.

The 2026 story around Engels really crystallized in January, when Nottingham Forest came calling with escalating offers. Forest submitted bids of £14 million, then £17 million, and finally a deadline-day offer of £25 million. Celtic rejected all three without blinking.

Why Celtic said no to £25 million

Engels is under contract until 2028, which gives the club all the leverage in a negotiation. There’s no expiring-deal panic, no player agitation forcing a move.

Engels’ market value has climbed to approximately €20 million as of spring 2026, according to current estimates. But market valuations and actual transfer fees are different animals entirely, especially when multiple clubs are competing for the same player.

The player making the price tag look reasonable

Since arriving at Celtic Park, the Belgian midfielder has contributed meaningfully with goals, assists, and penalty-taking duties.

The interest from AC Milan adds an interesting wrinkle. Italian clubs typically operate with tighter budgets than their English counterparts, but Milan’s involvement signals that Engels is viewed as more than just a Premier League target.

What this means for Celtic and the broader transfer market

If Celtic manage to push Engels’ eventual sale price past the £25 million mark, it would represent a record transfer fee for the club.

The January bidding pattern from Forest, jumping nearly 80% from first bid to final offer within a single window, suggests Celtic’s read on demand is accurate.