Arne Engels had four goals and five assists to his name at Augsburg by the start of the 2024/25 season. - © IMAGO/Bernd Feil/M.i.S.

bundesliga

Arne Engels: Who is Augsburg's midfield ace?

27.08.2024

Belgian midfielder Arne Engels has developed into one of Augsburg’s most reliable players and is still just 20 years of age. Here, bundesliga.com tells you everything you need to know about the Bavarian side's number 27…

Data correct as of 27 August 2024

Arne Engels

Age: 20
Club: Augsburg
Position: Midfielder
Country: Belgium (30 youth caps, eight goals)

Born in Dendermonde, Belgium, Engels has already turned out for two of his homeland’s biggest clubs. He was first spotted by Gent before making the switch to Club Brugge in 2015 at the age of 12 and rose through the ranks. At the age of just 16 he made two substitute UEFA Youth League appearances for the U19s in 2019/20.

The following campaign saw him join up with Brugge’s U23s in the second tier of the country’s footballing pyramid. All in all, he made 20 appearances in 2020/21 and was even named on the bench for the senior side’s UEFA Europa League play-off clash with Dynamo Kyiv.

However, despite more impressive displays - including two goals and three assists in seven Youth League fixtures - Engels never made an appearance for Brugge in the top flight. Instead, he moved to Augsburg in January 2023 and was immediately thrown into the starting line-up, missing just one of the 19 Bundesliga matches remaining before the end of the season. Such was the level of his performances, he was nominated for the prestigious Golden Boy award.

Watch: The best of Arne Engels

As Augsburg pushed for a European berth in 2023/24, the youngster featured in all but two Bundesliga matches, racking up three goals and two assists. Those displays caught the eye of Belgium head coach Domenico Tedesco, who included him in his squad for the international friendly against Montenegro. Engels is still waiting for his maiden full cap, but has been a regular feature at youth level.

Plays a bit like: Pascal Groß

Engels is a deep-lying playmaker who is also adept on the right-flank. While Groß’s attacking output is currently far higher, he has 13 years on Augsburg’s up-and-coming ace. He also plays slightly further forward, too, a position Engels may take up in the future.

Did you know?

Engels is friends with Union Berlin’s Yorbe Vertessen, with the two even holidaying in Ibiza in the summer of 2024. That was until Belgium manager Tedesco called him up to his Belgium squad ahead of UEFA Euro 2024 to add to his training numbers!

Arne Engels plays the game in a similar way to Borussia Dortmund's Pascal Groß. - IMAGO/Markus Fischer

What they’re saying?

“He is a very ambitious guy who wants to develop further and has consciously chosen FCA to take the next step in his career.” - Stefan Reuter, ex-Augsburg sporting director

“We are all amazed when we see him. He runs a lot, helps the team, which was not to be expected. He has integrated well and is getting better from game to game.” - Former Augsburg captain Ermedin Demirović

“I am very happy with the move to Augsburg. FCA is an established Bundesliga club and offers me brilliant conditions to develop in the best possible way." - Engels upon his move to Augsburg