Stephen Welsh
{{short description|Scottish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Stephen Welsh
| image = Stephen Welsh (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Welsh with Celtic in 2021
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|1|19|df=y}}{{cite web|title=Stephen Welsh player profile|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=201860&lid=9|publisher=Scottish Football Association|accessdate=8 September 2019}}
| birth_place = Coatbridge, Scotland{{cite web|title=Stephen Welsh Celtic player profile|url=https://www.celticfc.com/players/stephen-welsh/|website=celticfc.com|accessdate=11 December 2020}}
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Mechelen
| clubnumber = 21
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Celtic
| years1 = 2019–
| clubs1 = Celtic
| caps1 = 42
| goals1 = 2
| years2 = 2019–2020
| clubs2 = → Greenock Morton (loan)
| caps2 = 15
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2025–
| clubs3 = → Mechelen (loan)
| caps3 = 12
| goals3 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2016–2017
| nationalteam1 = Scotland U17
| nationalcaps1 = 8
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2017–2020
| nationalteam2 = Scotland U19
| nationalcaps2 = 13
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2021–2022
| nationalteam3 = Scotland U21
| nationalcaps3 = 10
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| club-update = 24 April 2025
| nationalteam-update = 10 June 2022
}}
Stephen Welsh (born 19 January 2000) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Belgian Pro League club Mechelen on loan from Celtic.
Club career
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.{{cite web|title=Stephen Welsh signs new contract with Celtic|url=http://www.celticfc.net/news/14084|publisher=Celtic F.C.|last=Henderson|first=Mark|date=13 March 2018|accessdate=8 September 2019}} Alongside fixtures in the SPFL Development League, he featured for the team in the Scottish Challenge Cup.{{cite web|title=Disappointment for 10-man Celtic Colts in Irn-Bru Cup|url=http://www.celticfc.net/news/13088|publisher=Celtic F.C.|date=15 August 2017|accessdate=8 September 2019}}{{cite web|title=ANNAN ATHLETIC V CELTIC COLTS|url=https://www.annanathleticfc.com/matches/annan-athletic-v-celtic-colts/|publisher=Annan Athletic F.C.|date=14 August 2018|accessdate=8 September 2019}}
On 29 August 2019, Welsh moved on a season-long loan to Scottish Championship club Greenock Morton.{{cite web|title=Celtic youngster Stephen Welsh joins Greenock Morton on season-long loan|url=https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/17869177.celtic-youngster-stephen-welsh-joins-greenock-morton-season-long-loan/|publisher=Evening Times|last=Hendry|first=Mark|date=29 August 2019|accessdate=8 September 2019}} He was recalled by Celtic during January 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.gmfc.net/stephen-welsh-recalled-by-celtic/|title=STEPHEN WELSH RECALLED BY CELTIC |website=gmfc.net |publisher=Greenock Morton F.C. |date=24 January 2020 |accessdate=15 February 2020}} He made his first team debut for Celtic on 2 February 2020, in a 4–1 win away to Hamilton Academical.{{cite web|title=Celtic beat 10-man Hamilton to move seven clear|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11781/11924533/hamilton-1-4-celtic-neil-lennons-side-move-seven-points-clear-of-rangers-at-top|website=Sky Sports|date=2 February 2020|accessdate=11 December 2020}}
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.{{cite web|title=Celtic see off spirited Motherwell for consecutive league wins|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/scottish|website=BBC Scottish Football|date=6 February 2021|accessdate=6 February 2021}} On 13 April 2021, he signed a new contract with Celtic that is due to run until 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/12691/12274570/stephen-welsh-celtic-defender-signs-new-four-year-contract-until-2025|title=Stephen Welsh: Celtic defender signs new four-year contract until 2025|website=Sky Sports|date=13 April 2021}} 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.{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Celtic |title=Celtic - Real Betis {{!}} 9 Dec 2021 |url=https://www.celticfc.com/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=Celtic FC}}{{Cite web |title=Celtic 3-2 Real Betis: Hoops win final group game but injuries for Kyogo Furuhashi and Albian Ajeti |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12489080/celtic-3-2-real-betis-hoops-win-final-group-game-but-injuries-for-kyogo-furuhashi-and-albian-ajeti |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Celtic 2-0 Aberdeen: Stephen Welsh and Jota score as the Scottish Premiership champions impress in opener |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12662853/celtic-2-0-aberdeen-stephen-welsh-and-jota-score-as-the-scottish-premiership-champions-impress-in-opener |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Stephen Welsh: Celtic reject approach from Udinese for defender after Serie A club enquire about an initial loan deal |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/12511335/stephen-welsh-celtic-reject-approach-from-udinese-for-defender-after-serie-a-club-enquire-about-an-initial-loan-deal |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}
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.{{cite news |title=Stephen Welsh: Toulouse make enquiry for Celtic defender |last=Joseph |first=Anthony |date=24 July 2022 |url=https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/12691/12658285/stephen-welsh-toulouse-make-enquiry-for-celtic-defender |access-date=31 December 2022 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}
On 18 August 2023, Welsh signed a new four-year contract with Celtic, keeping him at the club until 2027.{{Cite web|publisher=Celtic FC|title=Stephen Welsh delighted to commit his future to Celtic |url=https://www.celticfc.com/news/2023/august/18/stephen-welsh-delighted-to-commit-his-future-to-celtic/ |access-date=2023-08-18|website=www.celticfc.com}} During the summer transfer window in 2024, Celtic knocked back a bid for Welsh from Belgian Pro League side Mechelen.{{Cite web|url=https://www.celticway.co.uk/news/24501888.celtic-reject-loan-proposal-belgian-club-stephen-welsh/|title=Celtic against allowing fringe player wanted by Belgian club to leave on loan|date=6 August 2024|website=Celtic Way}}
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.{{cite web|publisher=Mechelen|url=https://kvmechelen.be/stephenwelsh/|title=Stephen Welsh is tweede Aanwinst|trans-title=Stephen Welsh is second acquisition|date=9 January 2025|access-date=9 January 2025|language=nl}}
International career
Welsh has represented Scotland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels. He captained the under-21 side on numerous occasions.{{Cite web |last=Mair |first=Steven |date=2022-03-28 |title=Celtic defender Stephen Welsh calls Scotland under 21 defeat 'worst at any age' |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stephen-welsh-fronts-up-celtic-26571090 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-06-05 |title=Celtic defender Stephen Welsh captains Scotland U21s to clean sheet in Belgium |url=https://www.67hailhail.com/news/celtic-defender-stephen-welsh-captains-scotland-u21s-to-clean-sheet-in-belgium/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=67 Hail Hail |language=en-GB}} 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.{{Cite news |title=Scotland's Welsh relishing U21 battle with O'Riley |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/61760052 |access-date=2023-01-10}}{{Cite web |title=%competition_name% (Sky Sports) |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/denmark-u21-vs-scotland-u21/live/460354 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}
Career statistics
{{updated|13 April 2025}}{{Soccerway|451011}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
Celtic
- Scottish Premiership (4): 2019–20, 2021–22,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61316038|title=Dundee United 1–1 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou's side reclaim league title|work=BBC Sport|date=11 May 2022|access-date=12 May 2022}} 2022–23,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65439690 |title=Heart of Midlothian 0–2 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou's side seal back-to-back titles |first=Martin |last=Watt |work=BBC Sport |date=7 May 2023 |access-date=7 May 2023}} 2023–24{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cyj332ne237o |title=Celtic crowned Scottish champions with game to spare |website=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2024 |access-date=15 May 2024}}
- Scottish Cup (2): 2022–23,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65730831 |title=Celtic 3–1 Inverness CT: Ange Postecoglou's side win Scottish Cup to claim treble |first=Thomas |last=Duncan |work=BBC Sport |date=3 June 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023}} 2023–24{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/celtic-leave-it-late-beat-rangers-win-scottish-cup-2024-05-25/ |title=Celtic leave it late to beat Rangers and win Scottish Cup |publisher=Reuters |date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=December 9, 2024}}
- Scottish League Cup (3): 2021–22,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59705941|title=Hibernian 1–2 Celtic|via=www.bbc.co.uk}} 2022–23,{{Cite news |last=Moffat |first=Colin |date=26 February 2023 |title=Kyogo strikes twice as Celtic beat Rangers in final |language= |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64688959 |access-date=26 February 2023 |archive-date=February 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228233618/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64688959 |url-status=live }} 2024–25{{cite web |last1=Cassidy |first1=Peter |title=Celtic beat Rangers in penalty shootout to win League Cup after dramatic final |url=https://news.stv.tv/sport/celtic-beat-rangers-in-penalty-shootout-to-win-league-cup-after-dramatic-final |website=news.stv.tv |access-date=15 December 2024 |language=en |date=15 December 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{CelticFC|players/stephen-welsh}}
{{K.V. Mechelen squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Welsh, Stephen}}
Category:Footballers from Coatbridge
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Scotland men's youth international footballers
Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Greenock Morton F.C. players
Category:K.V. Mechelen players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Scottish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium