Celtic agree club-record transfer deal to sign midfielder

With just days left in the summer transfer window, Celtic need to move quickly and get some deals over the line before the end of deadline day. The club's biggest need at the moment is bringing in someone capable of taking Matt O'Riley's place in Brendan Rodgers' side after the Danish midfielder's Scottish record move to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The good news is that it looks like Celtic have managed to agree a deal for their number transfer target in that regard. Yes, if speculation is accurate then we will see Arne Engels sporting green-and-white very soon.

As tweeted by Florian Plettenberg, Engels will join Celtic. A total agreement between the two clubs has been reached now. FC Augsburg will receive €13 million in total and guaranteed. There will also be a 20% sell-on clause for the German club. The medical is booked for Friday.

Engels was believed to be Rodgers' first choice to replace O'Riley. So, it is good to see that Celtic have gone out and gotten a deal done for the Belgian midfielder.

Celtic agree club-record transfer deal to sign midfielder

The €13 million fee would be a Celtic transfer record. It will be higher than Odsonne Edourd's £9 million move from PSG in 2018 and the £9.5 million figure the deal for Adam Idah could reach if add-ons are met.

Celtic have certainly shelled out more in transfer fees this summer than they usually do. And there is an element of risk with signing someone like Engels for a club-record figure.

At the end of the day, he is 20 years of age. So, let's see how he improves over time. Celtic will need to be patient with the Belgian midfielder. One can expect him to come in and immediately replicate the numbers that O'Riley was putting up for the club. The hope is that he will reach that level.