Celtic Rejects £17m Bid for Arne Engels

Nottingham Forest's Pursuit of Celtic's Belgian Midfielder Intensifies

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:11am by Ben Kaplan

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a soccer match between Celtic and Nottingham Forest, with the players' forms and the ball fragmented into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape.Celtic's steadfast refusal to part with rising star Arne Engels reflects the club's determination to maintain its competitive edge in European play.San Francisco Today

Celtic has turned down a substantial bid of approximately £17 million from Nottingham Forest for their Belgian midfielder, Arne Engels. This news comes after Forest's initial offer of £14 million was also rejected, indicating their strong interest in the 22-year-old player.

Why it matters

Engels has been a key player for Celtic since joining the club in 2024, contributing to their recent success in the Scottish Premiership and League Cup. Celtic's rejection of the bids suggests they are keen to retain the talented midfielder, who has become an integral part of their squad.

The details

Engels made his move to Celtic in August 2024, signing from the German club Augsburg for £11 million. Since then, he has made an impressive 89 appearances across various competitions, helping Celtic clinch both the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup in the previous season.

  • Celtic signed Engels in August 2024 for £11 million.
  • Nottingham Forest made an initial offer of £14 million for Engels, which was rejected.
  • Nottingham Forest then made a second bid of approximately £17 million, which was also rejected by Celtic.

The players

Arne Engels

A 22-year-old Belgian midfielder who has been a key player for Celtic since joining the club in 2024.

Martin O'Neill

The interim manager of Celtic, who expressed surprise at the bids for Engels and stated he would want the player to be retained unless the offer was £100 million.

Nottingham Forest

The English Premier League club that has made multiple bids to acquire Celtic's midfielder Arne Engels.

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What they’re saying

“Honestly, I am telling you, I didn't know anything about it.”

— Martin O'Neill, Interim Manager, Celtic

“If they have, then they must have done it during the game. And I would want it rebuffed unless it was £100 million. Then I think the board would step in there. No, absolutely, I would rather keep him.”

— Martin O'Neill, Interim Manager, Celtic

What’s next

Both Celtic and Nottingham Forest are gearing up for the upcoming Europa League play-offs scheduled for this month. It remains to be seen if Nottingham Forest will make a third bid for Arne Engels or if Celtic will hold firm on their stance to retain the talented midfielder.

The takeaway

Celtic's rejection of the substantial bids for Arne Engels highlights the club's commitment to keeping their key players and building on their recent success. The situation also showcases the growing interest in talented young players like Engels, as clubs like Nottingham Forest look to strengthen their squads through strategic acquisitions.