West Ham break EFL record to sign Engels for £22m

West Ham United have shattered the EFL transfer record by signing Arne Engels from Celtic for a fee of £22 million. The 22-year-old Belgian international has committed to a five-year contract with the London club. This transfer surpasses the previous record of £17.5 million paid by Ipswich Town in 2023 for Norway forward Sindre Walle Egeli.

The Championship newcomers will begin their season at Burnley on Sunday, but Engels will miss their first match due to a fixture against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, August 22. West Ham's director of player recruitment, Nils Koppen, stated that Engels was a long-standing target for the club. He praised Engels for his youth, experience, and character, emphasizing that he fits well with their plans for the future.

Engels has previously played for Belgium and won two Scottish Premiership titles with Celtic after joining the club from Augsburg in 2024. The Belgian forward expressed his excitement about returning to the Premier League, stating that it is his main goal.