Transfer News – Celtic manager confirms imminent departure and replacement

The Celtic Star

·8 gennaio 2025

Transfer News – Celtic manager confirms imminent departure and replacement

Brendan Rodgers confirmed in his media conference yesterday that Stephen Welsh is on the brink of sealing a six-month loan deal to Belgian Pro League side KV Mechelen…

Stephen Welsh at Tannadice, Dundee Utd v Celtic, Sunday 22 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The 51 year-old Celtic boss also explained Stephen Welsh exiting the club has paved the way for Dane Murray’s loan spell at Queens Park to be cut short in order to fulfil the UEFA homegrown quota required for Champions League matches.

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Welsh has completed a medical

According to a report from Sky Sports, Celtic central defender Stephen Welsh has completed a medical with KV Mechelen. It is believed that he spent last night finalising paperwork details before the move is officially confirmed this week.

Welsh has only made two appearances for the three-in-a-row Scottish champions this season. The 24 year-old academy graduate’s first start came in Celtic’s Premier Sports League Cup quarter-final encounter with Scottish Championship league leaders Falkirk in September.

Due to illnesses, Welsh was surprisingly named in the starting XI for the Hoops’ visit to Tannadice prior to Christmas.

Dane Murray of Celtic seen during the UEFA Champions League qualification match between FC Midtjylland and Celtic at MCH Arena in Herning. Photo: Gonzales Photo/Lasse Lagoni

Dane Murray’s return

The temporary move to Belgium seems the right one for all parties given Welsh’ lack of regular minutes. Subsequently, his departure sees Dane Murray return to the club following the 21 year-old making 20 appearances during a successful loan spell with Queens Park in the Championship in the first half of the season.

Speaking at his media conference yesterday afternoon, Brendan Rodgers addressed both Stephen Welsh departing the club, and Dane Murray’s recall.

Brendan explains

“We’ve brought Dane [Murray] back for that purpose [fulfilling homegrown quota for the Champions League], he’s a young player that I’ve thought highly of. I seen that he had a horrendous spell of injuries, so we sent him to Queens Park where Callum [Davidson] and his team at the club done brilliant work with him to ease him after a long period of out where he virtually trained every day, got really good coaching and was at a fantastic club there. The whole idea was to bring him back.”

Stephen Welsh of Celtic before the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Dundee FC at Celtic Park on October 30, 2024 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

A fabric of this club

Rodgers added, “Stephen is a player that’s pretty much been a fabric of this club for so many years. He’s one of those guys that helps create the culture, because he’s come through the system. But, there also comes a time where they need to look at their own career. So, there is a possibility that he’ll go out on loan – it’s not confirmed yet but for him to go out and for Dane to come back, it’s quite an easy transition really.”

Conor Spence

Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style. Available at celticstarbooks.com