Roma enter race for Engels as Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth circle at €30m
Quick summary
AS Roma have joined Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth in pursuing a transfer for midfielder Engels, with the player valued at around €30 million.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceRoma are ready to battle Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the chance to sign Celtic midfielder Arne Engels, claim reports in Belgium, but it’ll cost almost €30m.
It is hardly the first time that the player has been linked with a move to Serie A , because coach Gian Piero Gasperini had already requested him at his old club Atalanta.
Now that the Giallorossi have qualified for the Champions League after a seven-year absence, they hope to finally give Gasperini his preferred target.
Engels on Roma radar GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 09: Arne Engels of Celtic celebrates after he scores his team’s fourth goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Celtic Park on November 09, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Belgian transfer pundit Sacha Tavolieri claims that Roma are diving into the transfer fight, hoping to surprise Premier League teams Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth.
Engels turns 23 in September and has four senior caps for the Belgium national team.
He made the move from Augsburg to Celtic in the summer of 2024 at a cost of €13m.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – JANUARY 22: Arne Engels of Celtic FC competes for the ball with Tommaso Pobega of Bologna FC during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) This season, the player contributed seven goals and eight assists in 46 competitive games, and he is crucially also able to play on the right side of midfield.
There could be a knock-on effect, though, as Nottingham Forest are about to have a big influx of cash with the sale of Elliott Anderson to Manchester City.
Roma, meanwhile, must sell to balance the books by June 30 and can only consider a real proposal after that.
Sun Sport and Sky Sports UK claim that Nottingham Forest need around £25m to secure Engels (circa €29m).
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Roma have entered the competition to sign Engels, joining Premier League sides Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth in the race. The midfielder is valued at approximately €30 million, suggesting a significant transfer battle is developing. Engels has attracted interest from multiple top European clubs, indicating strong market demand for his profile. The competition between Serie A and Premier League clubs could drive the price upward.
Chance analysis
This transfer saga highlights a multi-club battle for Engels with Roma as the latest entrant, raising the prospect of a bidding war. A €30m valuation is substantial for a midfielder and reflects both the seller's leverage and the buyer's perceived value. Roma's involvement signals an aggressive summer strategy, while Premier League interest shows continued English spending power. The outcome will impact squad planning for all involved clubs.
Roma's entry intensifies competition for Engels, potentially inflating the asking price and complicating negotiations for all interested clubs.
Monitor Engels transfer developments; his destination will affect midfield depth planning for Roma, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth ahead of the new season.