Motherwell Sign Joe Hodge from Tondela
Motherwell have made a decisive move in the market, sealing a deal for Republic of Ireland international Joe Hodge from Portuguese side Tondela for an undisclosed fee.
The 23-year-old midfielder, once highly rated at Manchester City and later on the books at Wolves, arrives with a quietly impressive CV. He made 13 appearances for Wolves, picked up experience in the English Championship with loan spells at QPR and Huddersfield, then stepped out of his comfort zone with a season in Portugal’s top flight.
Born in Manchester but committed to the Republic of Ireland from a young age, Hodge has represented Ireland through the age groups and earned his senior debut against Canada in June. That international breakthrough now feeds into a move that Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson clearly pushed hard to complete.
“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, underlining both the planning and the conviction behind the signing. He highlighted Hodge’s exposure to elite opponents in the Premier League and his grounding in both English and Portuguese football, stressing that at 23, his new recruit still has plenty of room to grow.
Johansson is convinced Motherwell’s style will bring that out of him. “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, for his part, sounded like a player already itching to pull on the shirt. “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, adding that he sees a clear fit between his own game and Johansson’s squad. “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 move early and decisively, Celtic look ready to finally ignite their own window.
Celtic eye Baur as talks open
Long-term target Mika Baur appears to be edging closer to the exit door at Paderborn, with Celtic poised. German outlet Neue Westfalische reported that the newly promoted Bundesliga club granted the 22-year-old permission to hold transfer talks, and he missed training on Wednesday morning.
Celtic have tracked the attacking midfielder throughout the summer. The fee has been the sticking point, but with Baur entering the final year of his contract, the dynamic has shifted. Paderborn, who signed him from Freiburg in 2024, now face a choice: cash in or risk losing him for nothing.
Baur already has a substantial bank of senior minutes for his age. He racked up more than 60 league appearances for Freiburg’s second team as a teenager and has gone past 40 first-team outings for Paderborn. That blend of youth and experience, plus his status as a Germany Under-21 international, explains Celtic’s persistence.
Hassan links add to Parkhead momentum
The Glasgow club are also strongly tipped to move for Egypt and Real Oviedo winger Haissem Hassan in the coming days. The 24-year-old, who previously represented France at youth level before switching allegiance to Egypt, turned heads with his performances in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
If Celtic push both deals over the line, a quiet summer could suddenly flip into a late surge of attacking reinforcements. Motherwell, meanwhile, already have their man in the building, betting that Joe Hodge’s next step in Scotland will be his most significant yet.
