Former Rangers recruitment man behind West Ham’s £22m Arne Engels move | OneFootball

Former Rangers recruitment chief Nils Koppen has hailed Arne Engels after playing a significant role in bringing the midfielder to West Ham from Celtic.

9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Scottish Premiership Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Arne Engels of Celtic on the ball. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Koppen, who previously worked as Rangers’ director of football recruitment, is now West Ham’s director of player recruitment and helped identify Engels as a priority target for the London club.

The Hammers have paid Celtic an initial £22million for the Belgian, allowing the Hoops to double the £11m they invested to sign him two years ago.

Despite the significant profit, Engels’ departure is a blow for Martin O’Neill ahead of Celtic’s Champions League play-off against LASK.

Koppen has now explained why West Ham were so determined to land the 22-year-old, while also highlighting the experience he gained from establishing himself at a “big club” in Celtic.

Speaking to West Ham’s official website, Koppen said: “We are really pleased to have secured Arne’s signing – he is a player we have been tracking for some time as a key target.

“For a player who is still very young with his best years in front of him, he has very good experience and has established himself at a big club, showing consistency and confidence.

“Again, we believe Arne has the right traits, both as a player and as a character, to fit into what we are trying to build moving forward. He is very motivated to be here for this challenge, and we are excited to see him develop.”

Engels leaves Celtic having enhanced both his reputation and value during his time in Glasgow, with the Hoops securing a sizeable return on their investment.

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