How Much Are Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda & Callum McGregor Worth?
July 21, 2026 · Deutschland
Celtic coach Martin O'Neill expressed his concerns about the futures of Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda and Callum McGregor. These three players are very important to the club, and their departure could have a big impact.
How Much Are Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda & Callum McGregor Worth?
According to Bbc.
Background
Arne Engels, who joined Celtic from Augsburg, is expected to fill a key role in midfield following the departure of Matt O'Riley. With an improving goal record, Engels has the potential to become one of the key players in the team's development in the Scottish Premiership. However, uncertainty regarding his future adds pressure on Celtic to immediately make strategic moves in the transfer market.
Why this is important
The departures of Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda and Callum McGregor will have a significant impact on the strength of the Celtic squad. By only adding Camilo Duran in the transfer window this summer, the club faces the challenge of maintaining competitiveness in the Scottish Premiership. Losing a key player like Engels, who has potential as a goalscorer from midfield, could affect the team's overall performance.
Main Points
- How Much Are Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda & Callum McGregor Worth?
- Celtic coach Martin O'Neill expressed his concerns about the futures of Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda and Callum McGregor.
- How valuable are Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda & Callum McGregor to Celtic? - BBC Sport
The statement made by Martin O'Neill over the weekend certainly did not ease Celtic fans' concerns regarding transfer market activity this summer. Colombian striker Camilo Duran, bought from Azerbaijani club Qarabag, is the only addition brought in by the Scottish champions. O'Neill is seeking to overhaul his squad after narrowly missing out on the league title to Heart of Midlothian last season. He revealed that he has considered the possibility of selling Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda, and plans to speak to Callum McGregor about his future, considering the captain has reportedly signed a contract with a new agent.
BBC Scotland highlights the value and importance of each player and the possible impact if they leave the club. Engels arrived in the 2024 summer transfer market from Bundesliga club Augsburg. Although not quite the same, the midfielder was previously considered a replacement for Matt O'Riley, who was sold to Brighton & Hove Albion after scoring 19 goals in 49 appearances last season. The 22-year-old, who has been capped four times by the Belgian national team, has not shown the same goal figures as O'Riley, but this was not the case when O'Riley joined in early 2022.
Engels was able to score ten goals in the 2024-25 season and seven goals last season, showing that he can become a regular goalscorer from midfield. His last two goals were scored in a crucial win over Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premiership title decider and Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline Athletic. Coupled with his record of eight assists last season, he contributed greatly to Celtic's latest success.
On the other hand, Maeda showed his best performance in the 2024-25 season by scoring 33 goals in 51 appearances. He has also scored double figures in goals in three other seasons at Celtic, including 17 goals in the 2025-26 season, as well as eight goals in the second half of the 2021-22 season. In total, he has provided 38 assists which contributed to winning 10 trophies, including five league titles during his spell at Celtic.
Meanwhile, McGregor is one of Celtic's most experienced and decorated players with 26 accolades, including 11 league titles. The former Scotland national team midfielder has scored 77 goals in 576 appearances in a Celtic uniform and provided 84 assists since his debut in 2014. Even though McGregor is now 33 years old, his experience and leadership abilities are very difficult to replace.
The 28-year-old Maeda has World Cup experience with Japan, while the younger Engels may still have his best days ahead of him. Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou once praised Maeda's "world class" ability to cover space, which made him a valuable asset. McGregor has become the heart of the team and taken on more responsibility since replacing Scott Brown as captain in 2021. All this makes both players attractive to interested clubs, as does Engels' talent and growth potential.
Maeda's attempts to move to Wolfsburg in 2025 did not materialize, while Engels attracted interest from Nottingham Forest last season. Their decline in form at the start of this season was thought to be due to disappointment over the failed transfer, but both were able to finish the season well, although not enough to get Engels into Belgium's World Cup squad. Speculation regarding McGregor's future is nothing new, considering he has been a key player at Celtic for 12 years. He showed his loyalty by sacrificing his international career to maintain his form at Celtic. However, in April, he warned that he would be happy to end his Celtic career only if the club continued to strive for success.
Celtic will kick off their season by opening their Premiership title defense at home to Dundee on August 3. After that, they will face Kilmarnock six days later, followed by a League Cup clash on the weekend of 15/16 August. After that, Celtic will play their most important matches in the Champions League playoffs on 18/19 and 25/26 August, with one league game in between. Their opponents in this playoff round are still unknown, but Celtic will be favored and looking to avoid a repeat of their penalty shootout defeat to Kairat at the same stage last season.
Having extended his contract for next season following two spells as caretaker manager last term, O'Neill told Celtic TV he was looking to "add to the squad". Since then, the club have signed Duran, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain follows James Forrest, Luke McCowan and Liam Scales who have signed new contracts. O'Neill also hinted at how he would like Celtic to play in the 2026-27 season. "When we have possession, it's important to keep it, but I want us to do it with purpose," he explained. While it's difficult to judge what O'Neill wants without seeing Celtic in action, losing Engels and/or McGregor would leave a huge void in midfield. Meanwhile, Maeda's departure will create a significant challenge up front given his flexibility in the wing and central positions.
What happened next
Celtic are likely to hold talks with Callum McGregor over his future, while Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda could be targets in the transfer market. Coach Martin O'Neill needs to immediately plan a strategy to fill the void left if these three players leave. Activity in the transfer market this summer will be crucial for Celtic to strengthen their squad and compete at the highest level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Arne Engels?
Arne Engels is a 22 year old midfielder who joined Celtic from Bundesliga club Augsburg.
Where did Arne Engels join Celtic?
Arne Engels joins Celtic from Bundesliga club Augsburg.
Why is Arne Engels considered valuable for Celtic?
Arne Engels is considered valuable because he is able to score goals regularly and make a big contribution with assists, including in important matches such as the Scottish Cup final.
Is there any news regarding Callum McGregor's future?
Yes, Callum McGregor has reportedly signed a contract with a new agent and will be discussing his future.
When will Arne Engels officially join Celtic?
Arne Engels has officially joined Celtic in the 2024 summer transfer market.
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