Walsh signing kick-starts Celtic FC Women’s rebuild

The centre-back joins the Hoops on a one-year deal from SWPL rivals Glasgow City, in what could be a key piece of business as the club looks to bounce back from a disappointing fourth-place SWPL1 finish last season.

Walsh becomes the latest addition to Elena Sadiku’s squad, following the surprising, but welcome, return of Lisa Robertson from Hearts, and her arrival is a welcome sign that preparations are finally underway for the new season.

With ten players departing from last year’s squad, reinforcements have been badly needed — and Walsh arguably brings both quality and leadership into Elena Sadiku’s squad, something perhaps missing since Caitlin Hayes left the club, and Celtic failed to get the replacement Elena had in mind signed up.

A graduate of the US college system at Central Connecticut State University, Walsh also turned out for New England Mutiny before returning to Ireland, where she impressed for UCD Waves and Peamount United. Her time at Peamount was particularly fruitful, helping the club to two league titles and an FAI Cup triumph.

In July 2021, she made the move to Scotland to join Glasgow City, going on to make over 100 appearances, including playing a pivotal role during the club’s 2022/23 title-winning campaign. That level of domestic and European experience could prove crucial as Celtic aim to build a squad capable of mounting a serious title challenge.

Speaking as reported on the official Celtic FC website after putting pen to paper at Celtic, Walsh said:

“I’m really excited to have joined Celtic! It is obviously a massive club. It’s somewhere I’ve been many times as a fan too. So to come in here as a player is pretty cool, and I’m really excited about it.”

The 29-year-old also spoke about the dynamics within the current squad and what she hopes to contribute:

“It’s a really broad dressing room in terms of age, experience, where players have played and where they are from. I’m hoping to come in, and bring what I have experienced before and help as much as I can.”

Celtic head coach Elena Sadiku was equally enthusiastic about the new signing –

“Claire is a great addition to us. She has a strong background, both in Scotland and abroad, and brings a great deal of experience and leadership to the squad. She’s a player with real quality and we’re really excited to see what she can bring to the team this season.”

Walsh’s arrival is a clear signal of intent from Celtic — a statement that the rebuild is finally underway and that the club is ready to move past the frustrations of last season as we all must now.

With further additions expected, fans will be hoping that this marks the beginning of a productive transfer window that puts the Hoops in position to seriously challenge for the SWPL title.

With Claire Walsh now signed up, Celtic have added a proven winner who should the mentality and ability to lead from the back. And on the back of Lisa Robertson’s return, that will hopefully aid the reconstruction of the spine of this Celtic team for the upcoming campaign.

Celtic will certainly need to do more business in the coming weeks, but this signing and that of Lisa Robertson are a very welcome start.

Today we remember David Potter, who passed away two years ago today. We want to say thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered David’s last ever Celtic book, Celtic in the Eighties, which will be published on the fifth day of September by Celtic Star Books.

Celtic legend Danny McGrain has written a wonderful foreword for the book and we will have a limited number of copies available that will be signed by Danny McGrain – if you have already pre-ordered your copy of Celtic in the Eighties you will be getting a signed copy. If you would like to receive a signed copy by Danny McGrain please order now as the number of signed books will be limited. 

David’s widow Rosemary has also written a ‘thank you message’ to the Celtic support for David’s last book. It’s a wonderful tribute to David from his wife on behalf of his entire family that extends right out to his Celtic family. That’s you, me and everyone else reading this or anyone who has Celtic in their hearts.

The link to pre-order your copy of Celtic in the Eighties, signed by the legendary Celtic captain Danny McGrain is below. Celtic in the Eighties is a fitting way for David Potter to sign off as one of Celtic’s foremost historians. We think you’ll love it.