Engels at West Ham: done deal in all but name

The manager's take

O'Neill's candour is the most interesting part of this. Managers usually reach for the diplomatic script when a key player is leaving — something about respecting the player's ambitions, wishing him well, the door always being open. O'Neill skipped most of that. According to Sky Sports, he described himself as disappointed and acknowledged the offer was hard to turn down. That's a manager telling you, without quite saying it, that Celtic couldn't compete financially with what West Ham put on the table.

O'Neill did add that he expects further signings before the window closes — though the specifics remain vague at this stage, and nothing has been confirmed to back that up. Celtic fans will want to see that promise move quickly.

What Engels brings to West Ham

Engels is a Belgian international midfielder who spent last season as one of the more composed operators in the Scottish Premiership — technically tidy, capable of carrying the ball through lines, and comfortable in a side that wants to control possession. West Ham, rebuilding under their own summer agenda, are adding genuine international-level quality in the middle of the park. The fee and contract length haven't been confirmed by either club, according to BBC Sport and Sky Sports.

He didn't make a big speech on the way out. He just quietly booked a flight to London.

What Celtic do next

The Engels departure leaves a real gap in Celtic's midfield — not just in quality but in profile. He was the kind of player who makes the team tick without always making the highlight reel, which is precisely the type that's hardest to replace on short notice. O'Neill's window isn't over, and he knows it. Whether Celtic can move quickly enough to fill that void before the season gets properly underway is the question that matters now.