CELTIC centre-back Stephen Welsh has sealed his short-term loan deal with Belgian side KV Mechelen.
The 24-year-old fringe defender agreed a switch until the end of the season and could make a quickfire debut in the Pro-League encounter at Cercle Brugge on Sunday night.
There is no option to buy in the contract for the former Scotland Under-21 international skipper who had slipped down the pecking order for central rearguard positions at the Hoops behind Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Liam Scales.
Welsh has featured only twice in this campaign – the 5-2 win over Championship outfit Falkirk in the Premier Sports League Cup quarter-final at Parkhead in September and the scoreless stalemate against Dundee United at Tannadice last month.
He wasn’t involved in the matchday squad for the 2-0 triumph over the same opponents in the east end of Glasgow last night as he finalised the temporary move to Belgium.
Welsh signed a new four-year contract at the champions in August 2023 to keep him at the club until at least 2027.
The Academy product made his Hoops first-team debut at right-back in a 4-1 win over Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park in February 2020.
Brendan Rodgers has recalled 21-year-old Dane Murray from his loan at Queen’s Park to cover the position.
