Celtic rejected a £25 million bid from Nottingham Forest for midfielder Arne Engels on transfer deadline day. The Premier League club's offer, reportedly comprising £20 million guaranteed and £5 million in add-ons, was the third attempt to sign the Belgian international. Previous bids of £14 million and £17.3 million were also rebuffed.
Manager Martin O'Neill expressed his delight at the decision, praising the Celtic board's "remarkable" resolve. O'Neill had previously stated he would only consider selling Engels for an "extraordinary" fee. The 22-year-old, who joined Celtic in summer 2024 for £11 million, is considered an integral first-team player, making 89 appearances with 15 goals and 20 assists. The late timing of the bid left Celtic with insufficient time to secure a replacement.
