Celtic have a habit of leaving things late on transfer deadline day.
Three players arrived through the door, taking their total number of signings in the winter transfer window to five.
Benjamin Arthur and Joel Mvuka were confirmed after the 11pm deadline following Junior Adamu’s confirmation earlier in the day.
Signing Arthur meant that Stephen Welsh was allowed to return to Motherwell until the end of the season, even if it was touch and go.
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Celtic had minutes to spare on Stephen Welsh decision
Martin O’Neill would only allow Welsh to return to Motherwell providing he got in a centre-back as backup.
Both Celtic and Motherwell were prepared by getting all the paperwork together, but couldn’t do anything until Arthur was officially signed.
According to Anthony Joseph, that left things incredibly tight and the respective paperwork needed to sanction Welsh’s loan was submitted with two minutes to spare.
Had it not gone through in time, the 26-year-old would have remained at Celtic Park, which may not have been the best for all parties.
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Can Stephen Welsh play for Motherwell in the Scottish Cup?
Since Welsh featured for Celtic against Auchinleck Talbot, he will not be allowed to represent Motherwell in the Scottish Cup.
That will come as a blow for Jens Berthel Askou, who was very impressed with the Scotland international after transforming him into a first-team starter at Fir Park.
He will be eligible for their next game, however, which is an away trip to Falkirk on Wednesday 4 February.
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