West Ham United have signed Belgian international midfielder Arne Engels.

West Ham United Football Club has officially announced the signing of 22-year-old Belgian international midfielder Arne Engels from Scottish Premiership side Celtic.

This deal reportedly broke the record for the highest transfer fee in Championship history. The two sides signed a five-year contract with a one-year extension option, and Engels will wear West Ham United's iconic number 7 jersey next season.

Engels began his career at Club Brugge, played for Augsburg in the Bundesliga, and then reached the peak of his career at Celtic. A versatile midfielder, he was particularly adept at set pieces, directly contributing to 39 goals in 100 appearances for Celtic and helping the team win consecutive Scottish Premiership titles. Thanks to his solid performances, the young Engels has already made four appearances for the Belgian national team.

After completing the signing, Engels couldn't hide his excitement in an interview and clearly expressed his determination to compete for the title: "It feels great to be here, and I can't wait to start a new journey. This is a very attractive team-building plan, and our core goal is to strive for a return to the Premier League."

"This is a shared goal for the whole team, and I hope to do everything I can to help the team and achieve victory alongside the fans. I really look forward to seeing the fans at the London Stadium. Let's give it our all in this challenging season!"

West Ham United's director of transfers, Coppen, said that Engels is a core target the team has been tracking for a long time, and his experience at top clubs, excellent skills and desire to win are a perfect fit for the team's future plans.

Engels becomes West Ham United's fourth permanent signing this summer, following Keber Ramadand, Joel Veltman and Mano Solomon. He is expected to make his debut for the club in the Championship home opener against Charlton Athletic this Saturday (August 22).

Image source: Internet/West Ham United official website