Arne Engels plotting Celtic transfer payback as record signing accepts expectation that comes with hefty price tag

New Celtic signing Arne Engels
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Arne Engels has vowed to provide Celtic with a healthy return on their record transfer investment.

The Hoops shelled out £11million to bring Engels to Parkhead from Augsburg in a deadline busting move. After repeated pleas from Brendan Rodgers to the board not to simply hoard the piles of cash the club has been banking, he got his wish as they dropped eight figures on the Belgian, in addition to the ventual £10.5m that could be winging it's way to Norwich after Adam Idah was signed permanently.

With big money comes big pressure, but Engels knows expectations will be high with such a price tag. And he's confident he can flourish in Glasgow after making his Belgian to team debut last week, on the back of a maiden appearance as a sub as Celts slapped Rangers 3-0 on his introduction to Scottish football. "It's a really big club, the biggest in Scotland," he said.

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"They play every time for the championship and for the league cups and everything. It's obvious that it's a a step forward for me. Also with the new format for the Champions League, I think it can be really amazing and special for us.

"They obviously paid a big amount for me and I want to return a lot for the club. I just want to be in my best form and perform ike I always do. That's why they did it.

"It's up to me now to adapt to the situation and to the team. It's an amazing team. Everyone is speaking to me really well and is teaching me a lot, so I think it's going to be really easy to integrate and to perform."

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