West Ham make record-breaking Championship signing just hours before the new season begins!
West Ham United have agreed on a big transfer deal with Celtic, ready to break the Championship record just before their first game this weekend.
After 14 years in the Premier League, West Ham were sadly relegated at the end of the 2025/26 season, finishing 18th—just two points behind their London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Many fans wondered if some of West Ham’s best players would leave to stay in the top league.
While star winger Crysencio Summerville moved to Saudi club Al Hilal for up to £60 million, and Tottenham signed Mateus Fernandes for £85 million, West Ham have kept most of their key players, including their star Jarrod Bowen.
Now, it looks like West Ham are ready to spend some of the money they’ve earned this summer. They’ve reportedly agreed to pay £22 million for Belgian international Arne Engels. The news came from West Ham insider ExWHUEmployee, who said the bid for Engels—who still has two years left on his contract—has been accepted.
West Ham see 22-year-old Engels as a vital player to help them get promoted back to the Premier League, especially after Fernandes’ departure. Engels scored seven goals in 46 games for Celtic last season and has attracted interest from clubs in the Premier League and Bundesliga.
Nottingham Forest were also very keen to sign Engels, even offering around £25 million last winter, but Celtic refused to sell while they chased the Premiership title. Engels joined Celtic in 2024 and has made 100 appearances, scoring 17 goals in total.
It’s no surprise West Ham were willing to break the Championship transfer record to sign him, beating Florentino’s £20.5 million move to Burnley earlier this summer. This signing is also the 17th biggest in West Ham’s history, just above Issa Diop’s £21.3 million move from Toulouse in 2018, but below Niklas Fulkrug’s £23 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund after Euro 2024.
And West Ham may not stop here. Reports suggest Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson could be next to join. The 26-year-old winger has been a long-term target, and after positive talks about the deal, he might sign soon. BBC reporter Sami Mokbel says Nelson could join for about £3 million and would add good depth to West Ham’s wide positions, likely backing up both Bowen and their new signing Manor Solomon.
West Ham will kick off their push for promotion with an important away match against Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday, August 16.