Arne Engels has been ranked among the best U23 players across 67 leagues, but the data shows Celtic are closer to Europe’s top U23 level than expected
The Celtic midfielder’s position in the latest CIES rankings places him within reach of the top names in Scotland and within sight of the global top 100 threshold. It is not dominance, but it is close enough to matter.
There is no clear separation at the top end of the Scottish list. Margins are tight, and that keeps Engels firmly in the frame.
That context sets up the bigger takeaway from the data. Because another Celtic player further down the list changes the picture entirely.
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Celtic’s Arne Engels is closer to elite level names than it looks
Arne Engels is rated 76.0, which leaves him 2.3 points short of the best U23 score posted in Scotland. That is a narrow gap, not a damaging one.
His place on the list has been built across 1,256 minutes, with the ranking identifying ‘orchestration’ as his standout quality. That shows he is not clinging onto the group, he is firmly part of it.
- Rating: 76.0
- Minutes played: 1,256
- Profile strength: Orchestration
- Gap to Scotland’s top U23 score: 2.3
The wider context sharpens the picture. The global top 100 begins at 82.7, with players like António Silva and Alberto Moleiro sitting at that level.
Engels is 6.7 points off that group. That gap is clear, but it places him within measurable distance of established names already operating in stronger leagues.
This is not the first time the CIES Observatory has highlighted Engels’ importance to Celtic and it certainly won’t be the last.
Celtic’s Colby Donovan shows a different path towards that level
Colby Donovan’s score of 71.3 places him well behind Engels, but the context is what matters. For a player with only 519 minutes, that number carries weight.
There is a reason that matters. Donovan has reached this level without the same exposure, which shifts the focus onto his performances rather than opportunity.
- Rating: 71.3
- Minutes played: 519
- Profile strength: Defence in the air
- Gap to global top 100 cut-off: 11.4
To be clear, this does not put the Celtic defender on the verge of overtaking those names on the top 100 list. It does show that he is already within range of the broader group that feeds into that level.
Placed beside Engels, the contrast becomes useful. One Celtic player is pushing towards players already established in the top 100, while another has produced enough in limited minutes to enter the conversation.
That is why this list carries more weight than a simple ranking. Engels is pushing towards elite level. Donovan is already forcing his way into the next tier.
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