Celtic's Arne Engels heads for Hammers, Cristian Romero confirms Tottenham exit

The Hoops rejected a £25million bid from Nottingham Forest for Belgium international Engels in the winter transfer window and Engels was keen for a move to English football.

Celtic midfielder Arne Engels is set to complete a move to West Ham. Pic: Robert Perry/PA Wire.

Celtic midfielder Arne Engels is set to complete a move to West Ham, manager Martin O’Neill has confirmed.

The Hoops rejected a £25million bid from Nottingham Forest for the Belgium international in the winter transfer window and Engels was keen for a move to English football.

Speaking at a media conference ahead of Saturday’s Premier Sports Cup second-round tie against Dundee United, O’Neill said: “I would imagine that he’s probably at this minute doing the medical.

“West Ham wanted him to be available for the opening day of the season. 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.”

Celtic signed Egypt winger Haissem Hassan and Germany Under-21 midfielder Mika Baur this week and O’Neill expects further arrivals.

One could be Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo as a loan back-up to Kieran Tierney after the 18-year-old was given a tour of Celtic’s Lennoxtown training centre this week.

“I think he’s a really fine young player,” O’Neill said. “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.”

Elsewhere, Cristian Romero has announced his departure from Tottenham and acknowledged he was not always perfect, but insisted the club will always hold a place in his heart.

Romero has ended a five-year spell at Spurs to sign for Atletico Madrid in a €40 million deal (£34.1m) with a 15% sell-on clause part of the overall package, the Press Association understands.

Argentina international Romero divided opinion during his time in N17 with multiple suspensions across 156 appearances, but he was awarded man of the match for a colossal display in the 2025 Europa League final against Manchester United, which ensured Tottenham brought a 17-year trophy drought to an end.

“Today, I say goodbye to a place that, for five seasons, was much more than a club,” Romero said on Instagram.

He added: “It was my home, my challenge and the place where my family and I built such an important part of our lives.

“I leave with a heart full of memories and enormous pride for everything we lived and achieved together."