Record Breaker! Arne Engels Joins West Ham, Targets Premier League Return!
Record Breaker! Arne Engels Joins West Ham, Targets Premier League Return!
Belgian international Arne Engels seals a historic £25m move to West Ham, becoming the Championship's priciest signing. Can he lead the Irons back to the top flight? Get the full scoop here!
West Ham United has made a significant statement of intent with the record-breaking signing of Belgian international midfielder Arne Engels from Celtic. The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year deal, with the transfer fee understood to be around £22m, potentially rising to £25m with add-ons. This makes Engels the most expensive signing in Championship history, surpassing the £20.8m Burnley paid for Florentino Luis in July.
Engels joins the Hammers as they prepare for their first Championship match since 2012, following their relegation from the Premier League. He wasted no time in articulating his primary objective: to spearhead West Ham's immediate return to the top flight. "It's a really nice project to come into and try to go back to the Premier League," Engels stated after signing. "That's the big goal. I think that's everybody's goal and it's just up to me to hopefully help the team with it and together with the supporters to get some wins."
The young midfielder expressed his eagerness to meet the fans at London Stadium and embrace the challenge ahead. "Hopefully, we'll see that it's going to be a good year then and I'm looking forward to the next ones," he added. "I'm looking forward to this challenging season, but hopefully we can make it a really good one, so let's go for it!"
Despite his young age, Engels brings a wealth of experience, having won two Scottish Premiership titles during his two years at Celtic. He also boasts four senior international caps for Belgium. While he won't be registered in time for West Ham's opening Championship fixture against Burnley, fans can expect to see him in action when the Irons host Charlton on matchday two. His arrival marks the fourth new signing for the club this summer, signaling a strong push for promotion.
