Defender Stephen Welsh to join Swansea City

Swansea City is pleased to confirm the club has reached an agreement to complete the signing of defender Stephen Welsh.

The 26-year-old centre-back will formally join the Swans on July 1, on a two-year contract which includes the option of an additional 12 months.

Welsh will add depth and competition to Swansea’s defensive ranks, and will join as a free agent having agreed to terminate his contract with Scottish champions Celtic at the end of June.

The former Scotland Under-21 international spent last season on loan at Motherwell, where he was consistently impressive as the Fir Park side finished fourth in the Scottish Premiership, having been in the title fight for much of the campaign.

His composure with and without the ball, comfort in possession, and reading of the game have been hallmarks of his career, as they were in his 29 appearances for Motherwell last term.

Welsh has spent his entire career on the books at Celtic, coming through the youth ranks at Parkhead to make 70 first-team appearances. He won nine trophies across his Bhoys career, and featured in the Europa League and Champions League for them.

Welsh had also had loan spells with Greenock Morton and Belgian side Mechelen, prior to his stint with Motherwell.

“Stephen is an experienced player, who will add quality to our squad,” said head coach Vitor Matos.

“He is calm, mobile and used to playing for teams who look to be dominant with and without the ball.

“We are really pleased to have come to an agreement, and we are looking forward to starting work with him during pre-season."

Welsh added: “I am delighted to be joining Swansea, it’s a big club with a proud history.

“They made it clear that they really wanted me, and with the way the head coach spoke about the club, the environment he wants to create and the way he wants to play; it was a no-brainer.

“The Championship is a brilliant division, and one I am excited to be playing my football in and challenging myself in. I have experience but I am also young enough to be ready for a new opportunity and a new chapter in my career.

“I am really looking forward to getting to south Wales and playing in front of the supporters.

“I hope we can improve on last season and achieve what we want to, because we have got some great players here and the plans for the future are exciting.”