Chris Sutton Criticizes Celtic's Decision on Arne Engels

Chris Sutton has torn into Celtic’s decision to cash in on Arne Engels now – branding it “unthinkable” to weaken the team on the eve of a season-defining Champions League play-off.

The Belgian midfielder is closing in on a £22million move to West Ham, with the final paperwork being tied up after a record Championship fee was agreed. At 22, Engels has been a standout at Parkhead, and his numbers last season tell the story: seven goals and eight assists in 46 games across all competitions.

No surprise Nuno Espirito Santo wants him in the door at the London Stadium as quickly as possible. West Ham’s league campaign kicks off on Sunday, and the club are pushing to have their new signing available as soon as the window allows.

Sutton, though, is looking at the other side of the deal – and he hates the timing.

“Unthinkable” timing

Speaking to the Daily Record, the Celtic legend did not hold back. For him, the issue is not the fee, but what it does to his old club just before their Champions League play-off against LASK.

“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,” Sutton said.

He accepts why West Ham are pushing hard now, with the Championship season about to start. But he insists Celtic should never have allowed that to dictate their own priorities.

“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, Celtic have blinked at the worst possible moment. The route to the Champions League group stage is their biggest mission of the season, and they are walking into it minus one of their key performers.

West Ham’s pull – and Engels’ fast track

From West Ham’s perspective, the move underlines their clout. Even after dropping into the Championship, they can still lure a player who has been central to a title-chasing Celtic side and is about to step into a Champions League play-off.

Engels is not coming in cold. He has already completed a full pre-season with Celtic and has two Scottish Premiership games under his belt. Match fitness is banked, sharpness is there, and he should be ready to contribute immediately once the registration is done.

If the Hammers can get him registered before noon on 15 August, Engels could make his debut against Burnley. Miss that cut-off, and attention turns to the Charlton fixture on 22 August, or the EFL Cup tie with Southampton on 25 August.

Either way, his integration should be quick. The expectation is clear: Engels arrives to help drive a promotion push from East London.

Celtic’s frustration, West Ham’s gain

Sutton’s anger taps into a wider irritation around Celtic. Supporters know they are losing a player who has rapidly become a central figure, and they are doing so at a moment when the stakes could hardly be higher.

The money is substantial, but the timing stings. The Glasgow club face a brutal test in trying to reach Europe’s elite competition, and they must now do it without a midfielder who has shaped so much of their recent play.

For West Ham, though, this is exactly the kind of move they want to be making: a statement that, even in the second tier, they can still attract top-level talent and outmuscle clubs who are preparing for Champions League nights.

Celtic are left to gamble that the millions banked today will not cost them far more in the weeks ahead.