Defender Stephen Welsh signs new four-year contract with Celtic

Stephen Welsh has signed a new long-term contract with Celtic, days after manager Brendan Rodgers said he was keen for the defender to stay at the club.

Welsh, a product of the Celtic youth system, had two years left on his existing deal but has now agreed a new four-year contract with the Premiership champions.

The 23-year-old centre-back, who has played 53 times for the club, said he was looking forward to continuing his career in green and white.

“Signing a new contract for the club that I’ve been brought up on and have supported my whole life was, for me, an easy decision to stay at the club for another four years at least hopefully,” he told Celtic TV.

“It’s time for me to kick on now and hopefully I can have a few good seasons.

“I want to keep improving and continue to play as many games as I can, especially with the manager in now. He’s been massive for me since he’s come in.

“He’s one of the main reasons that I want to be at the club and I’m just looking forward to starting the season properly and going for it.”

Speaking after Celtic defeated Aberdeen last weekend, Celtic boss Rodgers had said he was a big admirer of the defender and could see him making a big contribution this season.

“I thought he was excellent when he came in,” Rodgers said. “I like Stephen. I took him with me one pre-season when he was a young player because I really liked him.

“For whatever reason he hasn’t maybe played the games but he’s a Celtic boy who wants to be at the club. I want him to be at the club.

“I said to him, ‘I can’t guarantee you how many games you are going to play. You may play 40 games in the season’.

“But I know he is always ready. He trains very hard every day and he came into the game, he played with composure, and he is aggressive. It was really well done from him.”