West Ham agree deal to smash Championship transfer record just hours before new season starts

West Ham United have agreed a fee with Celtic to smash the Championship transfer record ahead of their opening fixture this weekend.

After 14 years in the Premier League, West Ham United were relegated on the final day of the 2025/26 season after finishing 18th, just two points behind London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Following the disappointing result many fans wondered if many of West Ham's biggest players would remain at the club or seek moves either back to the top-flight elsewhere.

Although star winger Crysencio Summerville left to join Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal in a deal worth up to £60million and Tottenham agreed an £85m deal to sign Mateus Fernandes, West Ham have kept hold of many of their players, including talisman Jarrod Bowen.

And now it appears that the London club are preparing to spend some of the money generated this summer as they've reportedly agreed a massive deal to sign Belgian international Arne Engels.

First reported by West Ham insider ExWHUEmployee, the Hammers have had a £22million bid for Engels, who has two years remaining on his current contract, accepted.

West Ham reportedly view the 22-year-old as a key player in their hopes to push for promotion this season, and someone who can help full the gap left by Fernandes departure.

The midfielder scored seven goals across 46 appearances in all competitions for Celtic last year, attracting interest from clubs across both the Premier League and the Bundesliga.

Nottingham Forest were one of the clubs desperate to secure Engels signature, after a bid in the region of £25m was rejected during the winter window as Celtic refused to let him go ahead of the Premiership title run-in.

Engels signed for the Scottish giants in 2024 made 100 appearances in total for the club, scoring 17 goals.

It therefore comes as no surprise that West Ham were willing to break the Championship transfer record in order to secure the signing, surpassing Florentino's £20.5m move to Burnley this summer.

Meanwhile the move will sit only 17th in the list of West Ham's record signing, surpassing Issa Diop's £21.3m move from Toulouse in 2018 but sitting behind Niklas Fulkrug's £23m move from Borussia Dortmund after Euro 2024.

READ MORE: Wrexham agree big-money deal with Premier League club for third summer signing

West Ham target Premier League forward as next transfer target

But West Ham won't stop there, with reports suggesting that Arsneal's Reiss Nelson could be the next player to sign a contract with the Hammers this summer.

The 26-year-old has been a long-term target for West Ham, and after a breakthrough in talks on the finances of the deal, it is believed he may finally join in the coming days.

According to BBC reporter Sami Mokbel, Nelson could join for a fee around £3m, with the Arsenal youngster viewed as perfect depth in the wide positions, likely behind both Bowen and new summer signing Manor Solomon.

West Ham begin their promotion campaign with a potentially decisive away trip to Turf Moor to face Burnley on Sunday, August 16.