Celtic loved a robust displaying domestically in Brendan Rodgers‘ first season again on the membership final time period, as they gained the Scottish Premiership and the SFA Cup.
Nevertheless, the Hoops additionally completed backside of their Champions League group and solely gained one in every of their six matches, earlier than the revamped league part got here into play this time period.
When the summer season switch rolled round, the Scottish giants misplaced midfielder Matt O’Riley to Premier League facet Brighton & Hove Albion on a everlasting deal.
Nevertheless, Rodgers was then backed by the board as they made a bunch of signings to bolster the squad, in an try to enhance their success in Europe.
Celtic’s summer season signings
The Hoops swooped to signal central defender Auston Trusty from Sheffield United for a fee of £6m and Football FanCast recently posted an article explaining why they hit the jackpot with him, as his performances within the Champions League have earned him a comparability to Arsenal star William Saliba.
Celtic additionally agreed a payment of up to £9.5m for Adam Idah and reportedly paid £3.5m to signal Paulo Bernardo, after their mortgage spells from Norwich and Benfica respectively in the course of the 2023/24 marketing campaign.
Veteran goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was introduced in on a free switch and has saved an attention-grabbing 11 clean sheets in 14 appearances within the league.
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The largest signing of the window, nevertheless, was Arne Engels, who joined in a club-record £11m transfer from German facet Augsburg to bolster Rodgers’ choices in midfield.
Celtic have hit the jackpot with Arne Engels
Celtic seem to have hit the jackpot with the Belgian starlet as a result of he has had the specified impression within the Champions League for the Hoops.
As per FBref, Actual Madrid famous person Jude Bellingham has been one of the related gamers to Engels in Europe’s premier competitors this season, which speaks to how spectacular the Bhoys teenager has been.
![[FBCharts] Jude Bellingham Comparisons](https://static0.footballfancastimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/fbcharts-jude-bellingham-comparisons.png?q=49&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=2)
As you possibly can see within the chart above, each gamers are central midfielders who look to make a big effect on the high finish of the pitch by producing excessive non-penalty xG and xAG tallies.
Bellingham, who has scored 26 goals in 59 games for Actual Madrid, is valued at a whopping €180m (£149m) by Transfermarkt, which illustrates simply how spectacular Engels has been in Europe to earn a comparability with the England worldwide.
|
24/25 Champions League |
Arne Engels |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
5 |
|
Objectives |
1 |
|
Key passes |
10 |
|
Assists |
3 |
|
Tackles + interceptions per recreation |
1.8 |
|
Duel success charge |
56% |
As you possibly can see within the desk above, the Belgian record-breaker, who’s the most costly signing within the membership’s historical past, has been straight concerned in 4 targets in 5 matches within the Champions League.
Engels, who has additionally scored two goals and created three ‘massive possibilities’ in 11 matches within the Premiership, has helped the Hoops to win two and draw two of their first 5 video games in Europe.
This implies, albeit in a special format, the Belgium worldwide has performed a big function in Celtic’s much-improved report in Europe this time period in comparison with final.
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Brendan Rodgers should lastly supply the teenage sensation an opportunity within the Celtic first-team.
On the age of 21, Engels additionally has loads of time left to develop and enhance additional and, as of proper now, Celtic seem to have hit gold with the Bellingham-esque star.
