Celtic centre-back Stephen Welsh has signed a new contract at the club until 2025.
The 21-year-old stopper has been one of the few shining lights of a season in which Rangers crushed the fallen champions' 10 In A Row hopes by winning the Premiership.
He was handed his Hoops debut in February of last year against Hamilton but the Covid-19 pandemic meant he would not build on that appearance until this season, when he was thrown in for October's first derby against Rangers under since departed boss Neil Lennon.
Welsh, who has been in the Lennoxtown youth setup for over a decade, then went on to feature against the likes of AC Milan in the Europa League and would establish himself as a first-team regular.
Welsh has since started every game under interim boss John Kennedy.
And tying down the talented defender for the long term should give Celtic’s future permanent manager a solid foundation for the summer rebuild.
Speaking to Celtic TV, Welsh said: “I’m delighted to get it done and I’m here for another four years which is the perfect scenario for me.
“I’ve been getting a consistent run of regular games since the Christmas period there. For me, it’s just about keeping that up, keep doing it, keep playing well until the end of the season.”
