“100 per cent, I will go to Celtic as a better player. Tactically, technically I am better, and I am also a lot fitter” — 25-year old star has now confirmed he will be playing for joining Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic team in the summer and will play for the club next season amid contract with Hoops until 2027

Stephen Welsh asserts he’ll return to Celtic this summer as an enhanced player compared to when he departed in January…

Stephen Welsh has shone at Belgian club KV Mechelen:

The centre-back made a temporary move to Belgian club KV Mechelen on loan for the rest of the season. The 25-year-old has since solidified his spot in the starting lineup as the campaign approaches its conclusion.

Mechelen’s Stephen Welsh and Gent’s Archibald Archie Brown pictured during a soccer match between KV Mechelen and KAA Gent, Friday 07 February 2025 in Mechelen, on day 25 of the 2024-2025 season of the ‘Jupiler Pro League’ first division of the Belgian championship. BELGA PHOTO BRUNO FAHY (Photo by BRUNO FAHY / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by BRUNO FAHY/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

KV Mechelen currently rank 10th in the Belgian Pro League with four matches left and are five points behind Sporting Charleroi, who hold a Europa Conference League playoff spot.

And, Welsh believes his loan stint will prove beneficial as he gears up to return to Celtic Park this summer.

ANDERLECHT, BELGIUM – JANUARY 26 : Huerta Cesar midfielder of RSC Anderlecht in action with Welsh Stephen defender of KV Mechelen during the Jupiler Pro League match between RSC Anderlecht and KV Mechelen on January 26, 2025 in Anderlecht, Belgium, 26/01/2025 ( Photo by Nico Vereecken / PhotoNews via Getty Images)

Speaking via Daily Record, the Celtic Academy graduate and former Scotland U21 captain said: “100 per cent, I will go back to Celtic as a better player.

“Tactically, technically I am better, and I am also a lot fitter with the regular game time and being up to speed playing every week. I will also be going back much improved having played regularly in one of Europe’s top leagues.

“Whatever happens I am going back as a better player and person. I have also matured a lot, living away from and outside of Glasgow. It has been good going to a club where I know if I do well, I will play. It has given me a lot of confidence to go out and play and show I can be an important member of a team.”

Stephen Welsh still has two more years on his Celtic contract:

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – AUGUST 28: Stephen Welsh of Celtic poses for a portrait during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Portrait Session on August 28, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Barrington Coombs – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Welsh still has slightly over two years remaining on his current agreement with Celtic. Before going out on loan, he made just two appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ team this season.

He continued: “We will see what happens in the summer, I will obviously go back to Celtic. I have two years left and so the plan is to go back to Celtic. I will go back to pre-season and see what happens from there on.

“I have spoken to Darren O’Dea and John Kennedy a few times, asking me how I am getting on. I just like to get my head down and get on with it, as I have done throughout my career.”

Realistically, it’s challenging to envision Stephen Welsh securing a regular place in the Celtic lineup with so much competition.

If he’s destined to be merely a squad player, it might be in everyone’s best interests for him to explore his options, and after impressing at Mechelen, Stephen Welsh should have plenty of alternatives.