Arne Engels could still make his West Ham debut against Burnley on Sunday, but the Hammers face a Saturday lunchtime race to complete the registration process for their £22million signing.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill said on Friday that Engels was undergoing a medical ahead of his move to east London, while also revealing that West Ham want the midfielder available for their Championship opener.
With Burnley awaiting at Turf Moor on Sunday at 4pm BST, attention now turns to whether the remaining paperwork can be completed in time. West Ham’s official fixture information confirms the date and kick-off time.
Arne Engels West Ham debut hinges on Saturday paperwork
The EFL’s official transfer regulations state that documents must be submitted before 12 noon on the day prior to the relevant match for a player to be eligible.
For West Ham, that makes 12pm on Saturday 15 August the key cut-off if Nuno Espírito Santo wants the option of selecting Engels at Burnley.
Applications still have to be checked and approved by both the EFL and Football Association. The EFL says most registrations are completed on the same day when paperwork is received during normal working hours, although amendments can delay the process.
West Ham’s pursuit of Engels has accelerated considerably since he first appeared on Nils Koppen’s recruitment shortlist. ReadWestHam reported in July that Engels was one of four Celtic players being monitored, before the Hammers eventually moved to secure the Belgium international.
Sunday’s fixture has been circled for weeks. ReadWestHam covered West Ham being handed Burnley away on the opening weekend when the Championship schedule was released, with the two relegated clubs beginning their promotion campaigns against each other.
O’Neill’s comments suggest West Ham are working with the Burnley game in mind.
Engels completing his medical does not automatically guarantee involvement, and Nuno would still have to decide whether a new arrival is ready to feature immediately.
But if West Ham can submit the required documents before Saturday’s noon cut-off, the 22-year-old could be available for the first match of the Championship season.
