# Stephen Welsh

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. 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.

## 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.

## Career statistics

    As of 16 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Scottish Cup | Scottish Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Celtic U20s | 2017–18 | N/A | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Celtic U20s | 2018–19 | N/A | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Celtic U20s | 2019–20 | N/A | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Celtic U20s | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Celtic | 2019–20 | Scottish Premiership | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Celtic | 2020–21 | Scottish Premiership | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| Celtic | 2021–22 | Scottish Premiership | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 24 | 2 |
| Celtic | 2022–23 | Scottish Premiership | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Celtic | 2023–24 | Scottish Premiership | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Celtic | 2024–25 | Scottish Premiership | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Celtic | Total | Total | 42 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 68 | 4 |
| Greenock Morton (loan) | 2019–20 | Scottish Championship | 15 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| Mechelen (loan) | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 64 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 97 | 5 |
* ↑ Appearances for Celtic under-20s/21s in the Scottish Challenge Cup in which age-restricted sides from the Scottish Premiership clubs compete against senior clubs.
* ↑ Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
* ↑ 2 appearances in the UEFA Champions League, 6 appearances / 1 goal in the UEFA Europa League, 1 appearance in the UEFA Conference League
* 1 2 Appearances in the UEFA Champions League

## 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