Stephen Welsh will leave Celtic this summer after the club mutually agreed to terminate the final year of his contract.
The centre-back’s departure brings an end to a spell spanning more than a decade at Celtic after progressing through the academy system into the first team.
Sky Sports reports that the agreement has been reached as a gesture of goodwill from Celtic, allowing Welsh the opportunity to pursue a fresh start elsewhere rather than remain tied to the final year of his deal.
Interest in the defender is already growing.
Clubs in both France and Poland are believed to have registered interest following his impressive loan spell with Motherwell last season.
Welsh became a hugely important figure under Jens Berthel Askou during Motherwell’s excellent campaign and earned widespread praise for both his leadership and consistency.
Askou himself recently singled Welsh out for special praise while confirming his departure from Fir Park.
The Motherwell manager described him as a player whose “composure and intelligent defending” had been vital throughout the campaign.
Welsh also played an important indirect role in Celtic’s title win.
Motherwell’s performances against several of Celtic’s rivals during the season helped keep Martin O’Neill’s side alive before the dramatic final-day turnaround against Hearts at Celtic Park.
He even scored a 89th minute against Rangers in February when they drew 1-1.
For Welsh personally though, this feels like the right moment for a permanent move.
At 26, regular first-team football now becomes the priority after opportunities at Celtic increasingly dried up over recent seasons amid managerial changes and new defensive signings.
