Stephen Welsh (born 19 January 2000) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Swansea City and the Scotland national team.
Club career 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 4–1 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 2–1 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 3–2 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 2022–23 Scottish Premiership opener against Aberdeen in a 2–0 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 2024–25 season.
Motherwell (loan) 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 1–1 draw.
Swansea City Despite Welsh having a year left on his Celtic contract, it was terminated early as a gesture of goodwill for his long service to the club.Welsh to leave Celtic this summer, skysports.com He signed a two-year contract with EFL Championship club Swansea City, with the option of a further year.
International career 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 1–1 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying draw where he faced Celtic teammate Matt O'Riley.
On 15 September 2026, Welsh received his first ever call up to the senior team when he was named in new Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli's first squad for the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League. He credited his loan spell with Motherwell for his inclusion in the national side.
He made his debut on 26 September against Slovenia in Ljubljana. He was praised for his performance in the 0–0 draw.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCeltic U20sAppearances for Celtic under-20s/21s in the Scottish Challenge Cup in which age-restricted sides from the Scottish Premiership clubs compete against senior clubs.2017–18N/A—10102018–19—10102019–20—2020Total0000004040Celtic2019–20Scottish Premiership10000000102020–21Scottish Premiership 16120003Appearances in the UEFA Europa League02112021–22Scottish Premiership 100302192 appearances in the UEFA Champions League, 6 appearances / 1 goal in the UEFA Europa League, 1 appearance in the UEFA Conference League12422022–23Scottish Premiership 4100101Appearances in the UEFA Champions League0612023–24Scottish Premiership1003000101402024–25Scottish Premiership10001000202025–26Scottish Premiership1010000020Total4329041141704Greenock Morton (loan)2019–20Scottish Championship151300000181Mechelen (loan)2024–25Belgian Pro League171———171Motherwell (loan)2025–26Scottish Premiership1500020—170Motherwell (loan)2025–26Scottish Premiership121———121Swansea City2026–27EFL Championship800000—80Career total1105120611811467
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsScotland202630Total30
Honours Celtic Scottish Premiership (4): 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 Scottish Cup (2): 2022–23, 2023–24 Scottish League Cup (3): 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25
References
External links