Even one game in, you can tell Celtic have bought quality in Arne Engels.

In Celtic’s transfer history, only a handful of players have cost over £5 million. Among that small number, Vasilis Barkas and Albian Ajeti stand out as notable failures, with one other; his being an unforgivable and unpardonable disgrace.

The rest, however, have been successful signings because we don’t typically spend that kind of money unless we’re confident in what we’re getting. Even with Barkas and Ajeti, there were signs both were worthwhile footballing investments.

Barkas was a full international and a regular in European competition. Ajeti came from a Premier League club, and we had tried to sign him when he was a prolific striker at Basel, where he frequently found the net not only domestically but in European competitions. So, even in those cases, I understood what we were trying to achieve.

When we finally broke our transfer record, which had stood at £6 million for many years, it was to sign Christopher Jullien. He was an excellent signing, though we might not have fully gotten our money’s worth from him. Still, nobody would complain. Then came Odsonne Édouard, another step up, and he was worth every penny, making a profit when we sold him. It’s the same with Adam Idah; we’ve seen what he can do. We know he’ll justify the outlay.

It’s too early to make definitive judgements about Engels, but even after watching his debut, you can see this is a significant step forward in our transfer policy. If these are the levels we’re aiming for, it’s exciting. Engels comes with pedigree, having played in the Bundesliga, where he didn’t look out of place among the top talents in the German top flight. A full Belgian international, he already has a solid reputation across the game.

But of course, none of that matters if the player doesn’t show something when you actually watch him. We’ve only had a small window to assess Engels, but from what we’ve seen, it’s been impressive. Given Celtic’s strong track record of doing their due diligence when it comes to signings above a certain mark, it’s entirely possible we’ve landed a genuine top-class talent, a player who could not only fit into the side now but potentially be the beating heart of the team for as long as he’s here.

Sometimes you can just tell. Watching Kyogo Furuhashi, even in his YouTube clips – which can often be misleading – you could see all the elements of a top-class footballer: his awareness, alertness, first touch, eye for goal, and his ability to score from anywhere.

I remember a friend of mine coming back from a Celtic Youth Cup final against the club across the city, raving about one player. It wasn’t a Celtic player – it was Barry Ferguson. He told me it was a pity Ferguson was born into the family he was because he was going to be sensational.

That same friend went to a Celtic Park preseason friendly after we signed Rafael Scheidt, the third £5 million player who flopped, and called him an “unforgivable disgrace.” His verdict was equally emphatic: “He’s a complete waste of money.”

That opinion was echoed by Martin O’Neill a year later when he first watched Scheidt: “I like players who are not like you. I like players who are good.”

Engels is clearly no Scheidt, and early signs suggest we haven’t signed another Barkas or Ajeti either. He looks like he has real quality, stylish on the ball, and I can’t wait to see him play on Wednesday. The club is trying to turn him into an attacking midfielder in the mould of Matt O’Riley, and he showed flashes over the weekend that he’s certainly capable.

I had to laugh at the pitiful gamesmanship from Lawrence Shankland and others on the Hearts team as they tried to put Engels off his penalty kick. Celtic paid a lot for Engels – probably more than Shankland’s combined transfer fees and career earnings. And this boy is only at the start of his career. If Engels is as good as he looks, he’ll be moving on for much more in the future.

His calm response to those jibes showed that the weight of the fee doesn’t bother him. He’s mentally strong, and that’s key for fitting into a Celtic side known for its resilience, especially under pressure. Wednesday will raise the level of competition, and that’s why we’re all eagerly anticipating it. We need three points, and nothing less will do.

This is exactly the kind of pressure Engels has come to play under, and Shankland inadvertently gave him an early test, which he passed with flying colours. Although it’s early days, Engels has the pedigree to suggest he can handle it, and Celtic wouldn’t have paid that kind of money unless we were convinced he’s the real deal.

The days of impressionable people watching a few YouTube clips of Brazilian debutants and saying “sign him” are long gone.

Arne Engels is a symbol of Brendan’s growing influence on the team’s development. He’s the kind of player Brendan wanted, and he’s the type Ange Postecoglou talked about signing – that step up. You sign a £1 million player to sell him for £5 million, you spend £5 million to sign a player who you later sell for £20 million. You reinvest most of that £20 million in a player who can take you to the next level. That’s the strategy, and it’s a coherent one. When you commit to pitching for a higher standard, it’s amazing how quickly a club can progress.

In many ways, Engels has to succeed because he represents our statement signing. This is the proving ground for that escalatory strategy, and if it works, there’s no reason not to reach for the next rung on the ladder in the summer. Another record signing could follow, strengthening key positions and pushing us forward.

Wednesday night will tell us more. The game against Dortmund will tell us even more again. But I think we’re going to like what we see, because sometimes it’s just obvious. You can see it right away. This is one of those times, and we’re all excited for the next match, the next competition, and the next step up in class.