Motherwell Sign Joe Hodge from Tondela
Motherwell have moved decisively in the market, snapping up Republic of Ireland international Joe Hodge from Portuguese side Tondela for an undisclosed fee.
The 23-year-old, once tipped as a future Premier League regular, arrives with a varied footballing education behind him. He came through Manchester City’s academy in his home city, earned a move to Wolves, then picked up senior minutes on loan at QPR and Huddersfield before heading to Portugal for a season in the top flight.
Hodge made 13 appearances for Tondela and, while his club career has taken him across three countries already, his international path has been clear. He represented the Republic of Ireland through the age groups and made his senior debut against Canada in June.
Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson made no secret of how central he expects Hodge to be.
“Joe is an excellent footballer who fits the profile for the type of midfielder we want in our squad,” Johansson told the club’s website, highlighting the player’s exposure to elite competition. “He has played in the Premier League against some of the best players in the world and has gained experience in English and Portuguese football. At 23, he has achieved a lot, but there is more to come from this young man.
“We feel we play a brand of football that will allow Joe to flourish and develop further. He made it very clear that he wanted to play for Motherwell from the very start of this process, so I’m pleased we’re at this stage.”
Hodge sounded every bit as eager to get started.
“I’ve been so keen to get this done. Having watched Motherwell games last season and the games this season, I’ve been itching to get involved,” he said. “As a footballer, you want to play in football teams that you feel are best suited to your qualities, and I feel this group of coaches and players are a perfect match for me.”
While Motherwell finalise business, Celtic’s window looks ready to ignite.
Celtic’s late push: Baur talks and Hassan on radar
Long-time target Mika Baur has reportedly been granted permission to hold transfer talks, raising the prospect of a late attacking addition at Celtic Park.
German outlet Neue Westfaliche reported that newly promoted Bundesliga club Paderborn confirmed the 22-year-old had been given time off for discussions and missed training on Wednesday morning. That absence has fuelled belief that a move, long in the making, might finally be edging closer.
Celtic have tracked the attacking midfielder throughout the summer, with the transfer fee viewed as the main obstacle. Baur is heading into the final year of his contract at Paderborn, the club he joined from Freiburg in 2024.
By that point he had already banked more than 60 league appearances for Freiburg’s second team as a teenager. He has since added over 40 first-team outings for Paderborn and broken into the Germany Under-21 set-up, building the kind of profile that fits Celtic’s recent recruitment model: young, technically sharp, with resale value.
And Baur may not be the only attacking reinforcement.
Celtic have also been strongly tipped to sign Egypt and Real Oviedo winger Haissem Hassan in the coming days. The 24-year-old, who previously represented France at youth level, caught the eye with his performances in the knockout stages of the World Cup and has emerged as another serious option for the Scottish champions.
Motherwell have their man. Celtic look ready to make their move. The question now is how much these midfield and wide additions will reshape the balance of power once the season’s battles truly begin.
