Arne Engels has had an eventful week since joining Celtic, making headlines with a record-breaking transfer from the Bundesliga to Scottish football and debuting twice in just six days.
The reigning Scottish Premiership champions paid £11 million to land the talented midfielder on Deadline Day and he quickly made his mark, featuring in the team’s impressive 3-0 victory over Rangers.
Less than seven days later, he took another significant step in his career by earning his first senior cap for Belgium.
Engels was rewarded with a call-up for the UEFA Nations League clashes against Israel and France after showcasing his talents at Augsburg.
The 20-year-old came off the bench for the final 16 minutes, replacing Youri Tielemans, as Belgium went on to defeat the Israeli's 3-1 on Friday night.
Although he didn't see much of the football during his brief appearance, his presence on the pitch has already caught the attention of his team mates - including one very notable one.
Manchester City superstar Kevin de Bruyne expressed his excitement about the debuts of both Engels and fellow debutant, Julien Duranville, who also joined from Borussia Dortmund, highlighting the positive impact they are already making in the squad.
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Speaking after the match which was played in Hungary due to safety fears, De Bruyne said: "Julien wasn't afraid to show his talents, and that's already very positive what he showed tonight. And Arne (Engels) also made a very good substitution."
Ex-Fulham and Newcastle United defender Philippe Albert spoke positively about Engels' involvement within the Belgium squad.
Albert, who was capped capped 43 times by Belgium, told RTBF: “There are a few points of satisfaction: the young players who come on, captain Kevin De Bruyne who does the job. I must admit that the conditions weren’t great for performing. Playing this match ‘at home’ away, what’s more behind closed doors. You sometimes have to put yourself in the players’ shoes.
“It was the ideal match to launch young players. Once the score was secured, Domenico Tedesco brought on Julien Duranville and Arne Engels. These are matches to gain experience. The real big test awaits us against France and Italy.”
