Thoughts on Celtic’s generous decision to allow Stephen Welsh to leave on a free

I can’t help thinking that we’d have been wiser hanging onto Stephen Welsh rather than letting him leave on a free transfer to probably join Jens Berthel Askou at French side Toulouse… 

Stephen Welsh yesterday ended a long association with Celtic when he and the club parted on mutual terms with a year of his contract still to run.

The Coatbridge born central defender spent the last campaign on loan at Motherwell, where he impressed, so it has come as something of a surprise to learn that he had been cut loose by Celtic, who could easily have secured a decent transfer fee for the former Scotland U21 skipper.

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

Welsh is a player who knows the club well and has now shown himself to be a stand-out performed in the Scottish Premiership, so it have made perfect sense, to me at least, to keep hold of the 26 year old.

Stephen hasn’t exactly been a regular starter in the hoops since his first team debut back in 2020, but he’s performed steadily whenever he’s been asked to step in by either Neil Lennon, Ange Postecoglou, and Brendan Rodgers. The centre back even made an appearance under Martin O’Neill during a fleeting return from Fir Park in January.

For me, Stephen would have been an ideal squad player next campaign, especially since he improved massively in his year long loan spell at Motherwell. He was under the guidance of the impressive Jens Berthel Askou who was a massive influence on Stephen and several of his teammates during his stay in North Lanarkshire, with the Claret and Amber defence boasting the second best goals against record in the top flight, a stat that Stephen massively contributed too.

Jens Berthel Askou has moved on to Toulouse who finished ninth in the  Ligue 1 table in the season just finished.  As a free agent Stephen Welsh may well end up being a great value signing for the French club.

Celtic keeping hold of Stephen would also have been highly beneficial for the homegrown roster required for European football. The fact the club could also have made a six figure sum on any potential sale due to his contract situation, also seems a bit odd. It’s certainly not like Celtic to pass up on the chance to make a few quid from selling players.

I’m sure Stephen will have no trouble in finding a club in France or elsewhere with Poland also being mentioned as a possible destination for him. We all wish him the best of luck, but I reckon Celtic would have been better served hanging onto him for the final year of his contract.

If however he wasn’t going to feature then given his years of service to the club, without even the hint of complaint regarding game-time, it’s a decent gesture to allow home to leave at this time as a free agent so that he can secure a deal that will be more financially beneficial.

Toulouse is a lovely city, Stephen. Enjoy!

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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