Chris Sutton Critiques Celtic's Decision to Sell Arne Engels
Chris Sutton has torn into Celtic’s decision to cash in on Arne Engels now, branding the timing “unthinkable” as the midfielder closes in on a £22million switch to West Ham.
The 22-year-old has been a revelation at Parkhead and is expected to seal his move to the London Stadium in the coming days after a record-breaking Championship fee was agreed. Seven goals and eight assists in 46 games last season tell only part of the story; Engels has grown into a central pillar of Martin O’Neill’s side.
And that is exactly why Sutton is raging.
“Unthinkable” timing
The former Celtic striker accepts why Nuno Espirito Santo and West Ham have pushed hard to get the deal done quickly, with their league campaign kicking off on Sunday. The Hammers want him in now, not later, and they have paid the kind of money that usually gets deals over the line fast.
But Sutton cannot get his head around Celtic’s willingness to sell before their Champions League play-off against LASK.
Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: “There's so much on the line, it's unthinkable to go in to this match in a weaker position – but that's what is going to happen with Engels gone.
“I get that it's big money and I understand why West Ham want him now, with the Championship kicking off this weekend.
“But that's not Celtic's problem. They had to look after themselves.”
For Sutton, that is the crux of it. Europe’s biggest competition is Celtic’s main objective this season, and they are choosing to weaken themselves on the eve of a tie that could define the campaign.
West Ham’s gain
From a West Ham perspective, Sutton’s anger almost reads like a glowing reference. Celtic are losing a player he believes they can scarcely afford to be without, and the Hammers are picking up a dynamic, ready-made midfielder who has just come through a full pre-season and already played twice in the Scottish Premiership.
If the paperwork is wrapped up in time and Engels is registered before noon on 15 August, he could make his debut against Burnley. Miss that cut-off and the focus moves to the Charlton clash on 22 August, or the EFL Cup tie with Southampton on 25 August.
Whenever the green light comes, Engels should hit the ground running. Match sharp, tactically tuned, and with the rhythm of competitive games already in his legs, the Belgian will not need a bedding-in period. He can step straight into a promotion push in East London.
Celtic’s gamble, Hammers’ pull
For those inside G40, the frustration is obvious. Celtic are surrendering a key performer at the very moment their season’s biggest challenge looms into view. The Champions League play-off is not just another fixture; it is the gateway to prestige and serious money.
Yet the move underlines West Ham’s pulling power. Even after dropping into the Championship, they can still tempt top-level talent out of a club chasing the Champions League. Engels’ decision, and Celtic’s willingness to deal, send a clear message about the financial gravity of English football’s second tier.
Sutton sees a club he loves stepping into Europe’s biggest test with one hand tied behind its back. West Ham see an opportunity to build a midfield around a rising star.
Only the months ahead will show which of them has judged this moment better.
