Stephen Welsh’s deadline day return to Motherwell was completed with just two minutes to spare, bringing a tense end to a deal that went right down to the wire.
Despite the late finish, the move was concluded smoothly, with the Motherwell manager thanking Celtic for their openness throughout the process.
Welsh had begun the season on loan at Fir Park and quickly established himself as an important figure in a Motherwell side enjoying a strong campaign. The Steelmen are pushing for European places and currently sit just five points behind Celtic in fourth.
Celtic recalled the defender earlier in the window after exercising a clause included in the original loan agreement. While the intention had always been for Welsh to return to Motherwell for the second half of the season, Celtic were keen to ensure they had sufficient cover in place before sanctioning his departure. With injuries and squad depth a concern, the club opted to delay the move until alternative options were secured.
That cover arrived in the shape of Benjamin Arthur, who has joined Celtic on loan from Brentford. Arthur has made three senior appearances to date and, while inexperienced, provides additional defensive depth that allowed Celtic to give the green light for Welsh to return to Lanarkshire.
Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou was pleased with the outcome, saying on the Motherwell website: “We welcome back Stephen with open arms, knowing that he has unfinished business to attend to here with us. The dialogue with Celtic has been good and transparent all the way through, and we are absolutely delighted that we found a solution that sends him back to Fir Park to continue his development with us.”
With paperwork finalised in the closing moments, Welsh is now set to resume his season where he left off, aiming to play a key role in Motherwell’s push for Europe.
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