Arne Engels’ physical stature belies his age. Still 21, he is already a winner at Celtic and full Belgian international. 21 is the age Callum McGregor was when he made his (scoring) Celtic debut. Callum was a year older when he first moved into the middle of the park from the wing. The captain is likely to end his career as the most honoured player is our history, but we needed patience to see him grow into the player he became.
At the same age, Reo Hatate was still at university. He had made 62 appearances for Kawasaki Frontale (who get an interesting amount of column inches on CQN these days), when he moved to Celtic as a 24-year-old. Aaron Mooy went below the radar at St Mirren at 21!
Young Reo was studying at 21, we probably saw Aaron at the same age and didn’t notice him, and we watched enough of Callum at this age to know the scale of development between 21 and 24 is enormous.
I like what we’ve seen so far from Arne and have big hopes he will continue to kick on during the season ahead.
310 Comments- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- »
Oldtim
Rip oldtim.
https://youtu.be/ivbX7Lp6Cn0?si=OWjXabCa2n60rK4S
If Nygren is as good at football as he is at basketball….
Also impressed by what I have seen so far but would like to see him add goals (from open play) to his game.
Yes, got to agree, think that being a good player, our passing, set plays and penalties have got better with Arne around.
However, this could well be the thin edge of a very exciting wedge.
GlassTwoThirdsFull, Brendan Rodgers said the same thing about Matt O’Riley and as if by magic it happened – Matt is obviously a very talented player but our coaches and football staff transformed Matt in a season.
If we see a similar lift in Arne we will have some player on our hands…
Hail Hail
Just watched Wrexham 3 v Melb Victory 0 friendly (on TV) – v poor value for those who went to see it live.
$120 for an average ticket, and the 2nd half was the Victory NPL (development side).
I hope Arne develops the physique that lets him thrown some weight around and win more midfield headers.
Wrexham’s James McClean still looks creative, tidy and combative; shame he never wore the hoops.
Amen to all of this, Paul.
Patience? Yip.
Modern world, there ain’t none.
Context you provide is illuminating.
I think this kid is a star in the making.
If taken care of properly he can go to the top.
(That’s a higher level than Matt O’Riley)
Couple of additional points if I may.
Much has been made of the £11m transfer fee.
A record for us – i don’t want this to be the norm but you make exceptions for exceptional talents.
If anyone thinks £11m is excessive, respectfully, a single trawl through FabrizioRomano twitter page will disabuse you of that notion.
When it comes to European clubs securing promising TEENAGERS …
…€18m is the new £500k.
Second, astute of you Paul to weave Callum into this Arne narrative.
The transition to “life after Callum” is going to be bumpy.
It needs planned and managed. To me it looks like Brendan and the coaching team are on it.
Arne is part of that plan, though likely not as a direct replacement.
If Arne can develop, pick up some of Callum’s mantle while winning trophies?
He’ll do for me.
PS – comparisons with a chubby wee kick and rush merchant who happened to be born in the same country are just ridiculous.
O*d F**mism at its worst.
Let Arne get a dozen games in a row in his preferred position, right midfield I would say,and his confidence will grow, I didn’t think it helped getting shuttled about MF last season
I’m still not convinced with Engels,also add Trusty and Scales,
Players develop at different ages at different speeds. Some players tail off.
I thought Juninho was a great player. Not at Celtic.
Engels looks he has improvement in him
Engels has mega potential. Still young, European experience and a full international players.
I have high hopes for him.
I noticed somebody on the last blog mentioned the lesser spotted Christopher Jullien.
I also had high hopes for him.
Cest la vie.
Connolly,Macari,Dalglish , McGrain,Hay .
Aitken,Burns,McCluskey, Reid,
Nicholas,Crainey,McStay,Grant.O’Neill,
Forrest,Tierney.
Most of whom were streets ahead of Engels , whilst in their teens.
Many were not old enould to celebrate their debuts, will a pint of shandy , legally .
Arne is not young by comparison .
TT
11am kick off in Lisbon tomorrow, Portugal in same time zone as UK. Probably still over 30 degrees. 🥵
TIMBHOY3
Agree
I keep going on about it but I still think there is a good player in Holm. Obviously, BR does not share my observations
Kinglubo
random question – are there any sports science and analytical outcomes that benefit the players by going abroad in a high summer heatwave / would they not be better off staying here and going north ? or ireland /
what is better about being in portugal and italy ?
https://x.com/celticfc/status/1943657765656051769?s=48&t=7G36a4CF2aWIWdlbf3Vm2Q
Kuhn away, great business
Kuhn said it was ‘an easy decision ‘ to leave Celtic ‘ ,here’s to an injury riddled career from now on…
Toni Kroos Named British 60k-Seater as Stadium with the Best Atmosphere
https://share.google/xzPf0JcYU1C2WjogD
Guess where?
Can anyone tell me the benefits of buying the Celtic TV Premium (£80) as opposed to the Standard Package (£50)? I want to know if I’m on holiday abroad, will I be able to watch Celtic play live on Celtic TV.
Often thought of visiting Kawasaki
Was always too tired though
Theoriginalsadiesbhoy,Same with me £80 Celtic TV ,i would have thought Celtic could at least send me the benefits, if I could cancel i would.
!!Bada Bing!! on 11th July 2025 2:44 pm
Kuhn said it was ‘an easy decision ‘ to leave Celtic ‘ ,here’s to an injury riddled career from now on…
————-
now now, there is probably a sell on clause ,,, so to his success,
i bet he scores against us in a couple of weeks.
Bada
As I said on SC, it could he didn’t like the direct competition from Jota; perhaps he considered that potential career threatening tackle at the bigotdome; or perhaps they are paying him a hell of alot too.
Of course could be all three 🙃
As far as I’ve seen, there is no meaningful extra benefit from the Premium service. All games are shown on the Standard package.
Cesc Fabregas believes new Como signing Nicolas Kuhn’s qualities “fit exactly how we want to play” after he joined from Celtic on a four-year deal.
The German winger, 25, departs Glasgow 18 months after joining Brendan Rodgers’ side from Rapid Vienna.
Kuhn made 69 appearances for Celtic, scoring 24 goals and winning every major domestic honour in Scotland, including two Premiership titles.
“Nico is sharp, technical, and understands space really well,” said Como’s head coach and former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder.
“He brings creativity and intensity—qualities that fit exactly how we want to play. He’ll give us something different in Serie A.”
New Celtic signing Inamura could be sent out on loan
Published
6 days ago
Where do Celtic stand a month from start of season?
Published
5 days ago
Visit our Celtic page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views
Kuhn said he had “had a long chat” with Fabregas as part of the process of finalising the move.
“The decision was easy,” said the former Germany under-20 cap.
“The project is ambitious, and I want to be part of it, doing my best to help the team grow and achieve increasingly important goals.”
Nicholas Kuhn has joined Como from Celtic on a four-year deal.
Celtic paid a fee in the region of £3m for Kuhn, with reports suggesting Como will pay more than five times that amount.
That would make Kuhn the Scottish champions’ fifth biggest sale, behind Matt O’Riley, Jota, Kieran Tierney and Moussa Dembele.
Why are Como an attractive option?
Kuhn described the northern Italian city as “beautiful — a real film set”.
Como’s lakeside Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is smaller than Dundee United’s Tannadice, while average crowds are lower than Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs.
However, Kuhn is joining one of the richest clubs in Serie A.
In 2019, with the team playing in Serie D, Indonesian billionaire brothers Robert and Michael Hartono paid less than £1m to take over, following the club’s third bankruptcy.
The initial plan was to introduce Indonesian players into the lower leagues for a reality TV series but rapid success resulted in a change of strategy.
Kuhn is the third winger to arrive in a short space of time, with Jesus Rodriguez signed from Real Betis for a reported £20m fee and AZ Alkmaar receiving over £10m for Jayden Addai.
Alex Valle, who had half a season on loan at Celtic, is there after making a permanent switch from Barcelona, while former Nou Camp midfielder Sergi Roberto is among the star names recruited by Fabregas, who ended his illustrious playing days with Como in Serie B before taking his first steps into coaching.
Related topics
On You Tube watching Cork v Celtic,what struck me was how good
The Stadium, looked take note Celtic, also first time I’ve seen ice cream on sale,
TimBhoy163 and MNCelt
Thanks for your replies Lads. I’ve tried to contact CelticTV to find out what the benefits are of the £80 Premium package but no reply whatsoever. Why don’t they explain what each package involves so we can make an informed decision? Typical lazy attitude from the Club.
The reason I asked that I was in Majorca on holiday a few years ago and we had a game. I was confident I could get it on CTV but it informed me that my £50 package didn’t entitle me to watch it.
Bada
These guys aren’t supporters, some take the support and the club a bit more to their heart but they’re still out to make as much money as possible, no need for Kuhn to say that the way it’s come out but there you go, he didn’t fancy physical stuff after Ibrox and the broken nose, that was him finished trying to mix it in 50/50s. So I say goodbye to him and say it was an easy decision for the club to sell him when they got the money they were looking for.
Prestonpans bhoys on 11th July 2025 3:28 pm
Bada
As I said on SC, it could he didn’t like the direct competition from Jota; perhaps he considered that potential career threatening tackle at the bigotdome; or perhaps they are paying him a hell of alot too.
Of course could be all three 🙃
%
Or maybe Khun knows that the manager and his tippy-tappy, run-run-run, philosophy has been sussed, and its making Khun look like an erse?
Good afternoon all from the Brazen Head. Players come, players go. We are the support, we are the Glasgow Celtic.
Good luck to Kuhn. He shone for about 6 months then went right off the boil towards end of season. However, it’s another example of the virtue in coming to Celtic and playing CL football and getting exposure to other clubs in better leagues.
Looks Like Nico Is More Of A Sound Of Music” Than A “Trainspotting” Guy!!
Who Knew.!?
Hail Hail
Crystal Palace papped oot Europa League
Where would a wealthy young man prefer to live and work?
Glasgow or Como? Hmmmmm!
Easy choice…
KevJungle
Good to see you posting under your normal moniker 👍👏 and yes perhaps Kuhn doesn’t like the tippy tappy stuff either!
HORSE RACING..
After their THREE WINNERS at NEWMARKET yesterday, Trainer Charlie Appleby and Jockey William Buick have ANOTHER THREE Winners at Newmarket Today.
Like yesterday, I had backed their Three winners Today which came home at odds of EARLY ODDS of 11/4. 11/4 and Even Money.
The Dynamic Duo have several chances at Newmarket Tomorrow, although in a couple of Races they have TWO horses running.
HH.
Timbhoy163 on 11th July 2025 3:40 pm
The Stadium, looked take note Celtic, also first time I’ve seen ice cream on sale,
Ice cream has been around for years….