Stephen Welsh (born 19 January 2000) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell, on loan from Celtic.
Welsh began his career in the youth sides at Celtic, stepping up to their development side in 2017, and in March 2018, signed a contract with the club until 2020. Alongside fixtures in the SPFL Development League, he featured for the team in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
On 29 August 2019, Welsh moved on a season-long loan to Scottish Championship club Greenock Morton. He was recalled by Celtic during January 2020. He made his first team debut for Celtic on 2 February 2020, in a 4âÂÂ1 win away to Hamilton Academical.
On 6 February 2021, Welsh scored the first senior goal of his career with a header from a David Turnbull corner in the opening minutes of a 2âÂÂ1 league win against Motherwell. On 13 April 2021, he signed a new contract with Celtic that is due to run until 2025. On 9 December 2021, Welsh scored an early header against La Liga side Real Betis in a UEFA Europa League match where Celtic won 3âÂÂ2 at Celtic Park in their last group-stage game in the competition that season.
On 31 July 2022, Welsh scored the first goal in Celtic's 2022âÂÂ23 Scottish Premiership opener against Aberdeen in a 2âÂÂ0 home win. On 10 January 2022, it was reported that Serie A side Udinese had made a loan offer with an option to purchase attached for Welsh, which Celtic chose to reject.
Ligue 1 side Toulouse made an approach for Welsh during the 2022 summer transfer window. However, Celtic remained uninterested in selling the player as manager Ange Postecoglou saw him as being part of first-team plans.
On 18 August 2023, Welsh signed a new four-year contract with Celtic, keeping him at the club until 2027. During the summer transfer window in 2024, Celtic knocked back a bid for Welsh from Belgian Pro League side Mechelen.
On 9 January 2025, after Mechelen inquired about Welsh for a second time, he moved on loan to the Belgian club for the remainder of the 2024âÂÂ25 season.
On 1 September 2025, Welsh joined Scottish Premiership club Motherwell on a season-long loan deal. On 11 January 2026, Celtic's interim manager Martin O'Neill ended Welsh's loan early due to a need for cover at centre back. Two days earlier, Aberdeen had made an approach about signing Welsh permanently.
On 2 February 2026, after making two appearances for Celtic, he was sent back out on loan to Motherwell less than a month after leaving, as a result of Celtic signing Benjamin Arthur as centre back cover. In his first game back at Fir Park, on 11 February, Welsh scored a late equaliser against Rangers to rescue a 1âÂÂ1 draw.
Welsh has represented Scotland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels. He captained the under-21 side on numerous occasions. On 10 June 2022, he played his final game for the under-21s against Denmark in a 1âÂÂ1 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying draw where he faced Celtic teammate Matt O'Riley.
Celtic