Celtic have just made baffling Stephen Welsh transfer decision
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Football Insider or go back to LFC Live.
Credit: Imago Tue 2 June 2026 19:00, UK Celtic have terminated Stephen Welsh’s contract one year early after his loan spell at Motherwell.The defender spent the 2025-26 campaign on loan to the Steelmen, barring a short mid-season return in the winter window.Here, the 26-year-old helped Motherwell qualify for Europe, with the centre-back being crucial to this success.Now, Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph on 2 June has reported that Celtic have opted to release the defender as a goodwill gesture for helping the club take points off their title rivals.However, this is now set to cost Celtic thousands in a potential transfer fee for Welsh. 🔄 Celtic Transfer Update 🔄 Breaking news on latest signings, departures, and contract news from the Parkhead boardroom. VISIT THE CELTIC TRANSFER HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Celtic terminate Stephen Welsh’s contractAfter his loan spell at Motherwell, it was clear that Welsh had little to no future at Celtic.Despite impressing at the Steelmen, multiple centre-backs were in front of the 26-year-old, with reinforcements expected in this position in the transfer window.Stephen Welsh’s Scottish Premiership stats this seasonPer 90 minutesTackles 0.98Interceptions1.38Recoveries3.66Clean sheets0.43Welsh had plenty of impressive stats this season.
Credit: FotmobHowever, to simply terminate his contract is baffling, considering the season he has just had.Celtic could have easily got a decent fee for the defender, who had regularly impressed in the Scottish Premiership.A gesture of goodwill does not win you trophies in football, and with the competition so tight in Scotland at the moment, the potential fee would have been useful to reinvest in the squad.Celtic and Stephen Welsh have mutually agreed to part ways this summer.He’s been allowed to terminate his contract a year early – a goodwill gesture for his services & helping Motherwell take points off Celtic’s title rivals last season.Clubs in France and Poland interested. pic.twitter.com/NkTDXOqsho— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) June 2, 2026 Joseph has already made it clear that clubs are interested in Welsh, and not getting a fee for the centre-back is a baffling missed opportunity.If Celtic were going to rid themselves of the defender, no matter how he performed for Motherwell, they should have simply sold him last summer, or even in the recent winter window.Who else are Celtic set to part with this summer?Football Insider has exclusively revealed that Celtic will not stand in the way of Daizen Maeda leaving the club this summer.The Japan international was crucial at the end of the 2025-26 campaign as his form helped lead the club to the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup titles.However, with Maeda dreaming of a move to the Premier League, the Hoops are now prepared to cash in on their star attacker.Maeda’s fate is likely to be sealed after the World Cup, as Celtic wait until they have appointed a new manager to begin their transfer business.