2024–25 Motherwell F.C. season explained

Club:Motherwell
Season:2024–25
Manager:Stuart Kettlewell
Chairman:James McMahon
(until 1 August)
Stadium:Fir Park
Season Topscorer:Seven Players (1)
Highest Attendance:
Lowest Attendance:
Pattern La1:_motherwell2425h
Pattern B1:_motherwell2425h
Pattern Ra1:_motherwell2425h
Pattern Sh1:_motherwell2425h
Pattern So1:_motherwell2425h
Leftarm1:9E0000
Body1:FFBE00
Rightarm1:9E0000
Shorts1:9E0000
Socks1:9E0000
Prevseason:2023–24
Nextseason:2025–26

The 2024–25 season is Motherwell's fortieth consecutive season in the top flight of Scottish football, having been promoted from the Scottish First Division at the end of the 1984–85 season.

Season review

Preseason

On 20 May 2024, Motherwell announced that they would have a 7-day training camp in the Netherlands from 24 June, during which they would play two friendly matches, against Twente and DSVD Deurningen.[1]

On 24 May, Motherwell announced their retained and released list, with Liam Kelly, Callan Elliot, Calum Butcher, Barry Maguire and Blair Spittal all leaving the club at the end of the season when their contracts expire, whilst Matthew Connelly, Stephen O'Donnell, Bevis Mugabi, Callum Slattery and Sam Nicholson had all been offered new contracts, with Paul McGinn and Aston Oxborough both extending their contracts until the summer of 2025. Meanwhile youth team players, Olly Whyte, Max Ross, Ewan Wilson and Mark Ferrie all extended their contract until the summer of 2025, whilst Shay Nevans, Robbie Garcia, Arran Bone, Kyle Aitken, Josh Bogan and Adam MacDonald would be leaving the club at the end of their contracts.[2]

On 30 May, Jonathan Obika announced his retirement from football and joined the coaching staff at Motherwell.[3]

On 31 May, Motherwell announced that they had signed Sam Nicholson to a permanent two-year contract, after joining the club on loan from Colorado Rapids in January 2024.[4]

June

On 3 June, Motherwell announced that Stephen O'Donnell had signed a new two-year contract with the club.[5]

On 7 June, Motherwell announced that Bevis Mugabi would be leaving the club having turned down a new contract with the club following the expiration of his last one at the end of the previous season.[6]

On 11 June, Motherwell announced the signing of Kofi Balmer to a two-year contract, with the option of a third, from Crystal Palace.[7]

On 12 June, Motherwell announced the signing of free-agent Tom Sparrow to a two-year contract, with the option of a third, after he'd left Stoke City at the end of his contract.[8]

On 15 June, Motherwell announced the signing of free-agent John Koutroumbis to a two-year contract, after he'd left Perth Glory at the end of his contract.[9]

On 19 June, Motherwell announced the signing of free-agent Ross Callachan to a one-year contract, with the option of an additional year, after he'd left Ross County at the end of his contract the previous month.[10]

On 20 June, Motherwell announced that Ross Tierney left the club to return to Bohemians for an undisclosed fee.[11] Later the same day, Motherwell announced the signing of Zach Robinson, to a two-year contract following the completion of his AFC Wimbledon contract, and of Filip Stuparević to a two-year contract, with an option of a third, after his Domžale contract had expired.[12] [13] Motherwell also announced that Callum Slattery had signed a new one-year contract, with the option of an additional year.[14]

On 24 June, Motherwell announced the signing of free-agent Liam Gordon to a two-year contract, after he'd turned down a new contract with St Johnstone.[15]

On 28 June, Motherwell announced the season-long loan signing of Krisztián Hegyi from West Ham United.[16]

July

On 2 July, Motherwell announced the signing of Steve Seddon to a one-year contract, with the option of another, after leaving Oxford United.[17]

On 12 July, Motherwell announced that they had signed professional contracts with Eight academy graduates, Jack McConnell, Jon-Joe Friel, Jay Gillies, Andrew Arnott, Zander McAllister, Rocco McColm, Nathan Lawson and Harry McLean.[18] Later the same day Motherwell announced that Matthew Connelly had signed a new one-year contract with the club.[19]

On 15 July, Motherwell announced Paul McGinn as their new club captain and Stephen O'Donnell as their new vice-captain.[20] Later the same day Motherwell announced the season-long loan signing of Marvin Kaleta from Wolverhampton Wanderers.[21]

On 16 July, Motherwell announced that Theo Bair had left the club to join AJ Auxerre for an undisclosed fee.[22]

On 17 July, Motherwell announced that Olly Whyte had joined Cowdenbeath on loan until January 2025.[23]

On 30 July, Motherwell announced the signing of Apostolos Stamatelopoulos from Newcastle Jets for an undisclosed fee, on a contract until 2027.[24]

August

On 13 August, Motherwell announced the return of Tony Watt on a season-long loan deal from Dundee United.[25]

On 14 August, goalkeeper Matthew Connelly joined East Kilbride on loan until January.[26]

On 18 August, Motherwell announced the signing of free-agent Tawanda Maswanhise on a short-term contract until January.[27]

Squad

No.NameNationalityPositionDate of birth (Age)Signed fromSigned inContract endsApps.Goals
Goalkeepers
1Krisztián HegyiGK2002 9, df=yeson loan from West Ham United2024202520
13Aston OxboroughGK1998 5, df=yesUnattached2022[28] 202570
Defenders
2Stephen O'DonnellDF2024 5, df=yesKilmarnock2020[29] 20261544
3Steve SeddonDF1997 12, df=yesUnattached20242025(+1)30
4Liam GordonDF1996 1, df=yesSt Johnstone2024202660
5Kofi BalmerDF2000 9, df=yesUnattached20242026 (+1)21
15Dan CaseyDF1997 10, df=yesUnattached2023[30] 2025[31] 514
16Paul McGinnDF1990 10, df=yesHibernian2022[32] 2025831
20Shane BlaneyDF1999 1, df=yesSligo Rovers2022[33] 2025423
21Marvin KaletaDF2004 9, df=yeson loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers2024202520
22John KoutroumbisDF1998 3, df=yesUnattached2024202600
23Ewan WilsonDF2004 11, df=yesAcademy2021[34] 202590
Midfielders
6Davor ZdravkovskiMF1998 3, df=yesUnattached2023[35] 2025381
7Tom SparrowMF2002 12, df=yesUnattached20242026 (+1)30
8Callum SlatteryMF2024 5, df=yesSouthampton2021[36] 2025 (+1)949
11Andy HallidayMF1991 10, df=yesHeart of Midlothian2024[37] 2025211
12Harry PatonMF1998 5, df=yesUnattached2023[38] 2025[39] 422
18Ross CallachanMF1993 9, df=yesUnattached20242025 (+1)10
38Lennon MillerMF2006 8, df=yesAcademy2022[40] 2026[41] 443
Forwards
9Zach RobinsonFW2002 6, df=yesUnattached2023202570
14Apostolos StamatelopoulosFW1999 4, df=yesNewcastle Jets2024202720
17Filip StuparevićFW2000 8, df=yesUnattached2023202541
19Sam NicholsonFW1995 1, df=yesColorado Rapids20242026162
24Moses EbiyeFW1997 4, df=yesUnattached2024[42] 2025134
29Mark FerrieFW2005 12, df=yesAcademy20222025120
52Tony WattFW1993 12, df=yeson loan from Dundee United202420257119
55Tawanda MaswanhiseFW2002 11, df=yesUnattached2024202510
Development team
25Max RossDF2006 4, df=yesAcademy2022202500
27Dylan WellsMF2006 3, df=yesAcademy20222026[43] 60
28Luca RossFW2006 8, df=yesAcademy2022202551
30Brannan McDermottDF2006 3, df=yesAcademy2022202510
32Zack FlatmanDF2007 2, df=yesAcademy2023202500
33Derin MarshallDF2007 3, df=yesAcademy2023202500
34Scott WilliamsonDF2007 3, df=yesAcademy2023202500
35Campbell ForrestMF2007 10, df=yesAcademy2023202500
36Ross NelsonDF2007 7, df=yesAcademy2023202500
37Mikey BoothMF2007 8, df=yesAcademy2023202500
39Devon JohnstonFW2007 6, df=yesAcademy2023202500
40Zack TomanyFW2007 4, df=yesAcademy2023202500
41Jack McConnellGK2008 6, df=yesAcademy202400
42Jon-Joe FrielDF2008 2, df=yesAcademy202400
43Jay GilliesDF2008 2, df=yesAcademy202400
44Andrew ArnottDF2008 5, df=yesAcademy202400
45Zander McAllisterMF2008 4, df=yesAcademy202400
46Rocco McColmMF2008 9, df=yesAcademy202400
47Nathan LawsonFW2008 2, df=yesAcademy202400
48Harry McLeanFW2008 6, df=yesAcademy202400
U18
Away on loan
26Olly WhyteMF2006 11, df=yesAcademy2023202500
31Matthew ConnellyGK2003 3, df=yesAcademy2019202500
Left during the season
14Theo BairFW1999 8, df=yesUnattached2023[44] 20254115

Transfers

See main article: List of Scottish football transfers summer 2024.

In

DatePositionNationalityNameFromFeeRef
1 June 2024MFSam NicholsonColorado RapidsFree
11 June 2024DFKofi BalmerCrystal PalaceUndisclosed
12 June 2024MFTom SparrowUnattachedFree
15 June 2024DFJohn KoutroumbisUnattachedFree
19 June 2024MFRoss CallachanUnattachedFree
20 June 2024FWZach RobinsonUnattachedFree
20 June 2024FWFilip StuparevićUnattachedFree
24 June 2024DFLiam GordonSt JohnstoneFree
2 July 2024DFSteve SeddonUnattachedFree
30 July 2024FWApostolos StamatelopoulosNewcastle JetsUndisclosed
18 August 2024FWTawanda MaswanhiseUnattachedFree

Loans in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromDate toRef.
28 June 2024GKKrisztián HegyiWest Ham UnitedEnd of season
15 July 2024DFMarvin KaletaWolverhampton WanderersEnd of season
13 August 2024FWTony WattDundee UnitedEnd of season

Out

DatePositionNationalityNameToFeeRef.
9 June 2024FWMuhammad AdamStranraerUndisclosed[45]
20 June 2024MFRoss TierneyBohemiansUndisclosed
16 July 2024FWTheo BairAJ AuxerreUndisclosed

Loans out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToDate toRef.
17 July 2024MFOlly WhyteCowdenbeathJanuary 2025
14 August 2024GKMatthew ConnellyEast KilbrideJanuary 2025

Competitions

Premiership

See main article: 2023–24 Scottish Premiership.

Results

Scottish Cup

See main article: 2023–24 Scottish Cup.

League Cup

Group stage

See main article: 2024–25 Scottish League Cup.

Knockout phase

Squad statistics

Appearances

|-|colspan="14"|Players away from the club on loan:|-|colspan="14"|Players who left Motherwell during the season:|}

Goal scorers

width=60Rankingwidth=60Nationwidth=60Positionwidth=60Numberwidth=150Namewidth=150Scottish Premiershipwidth=100Scottish Cupwidth=150League Cupwidth=80Total
1 FW24Moses Ebiye0022
2 DF5 Kofi Balmer0011
DF15Dan Casey0011
DF2 Stephen O'Donnell0011
DF20Shane Blaney0011
MF38Lennon Miller0011
FW17Filip Stuparević0011
Own goal1001
TOTALS1089

Clean sheets

width=60Rankingwidth=60Nationwidth=60Positionwidth=60Numberwidth=150Namewidth=150Scottish Premiershipwidth=100Scottish Cupwidth=150League Cupwidth=80Total
1 GK13Aston Oxborough1023
2 GK1 Krisztián Hegyi0011
TOTALS1034

Disciplinary record

NumberNationPositionNamePremiershipScottish Cup League CupTotal
width=60 style="background: #FFEE99"width=60 style="background: #FF8888"width=60 style="background: #FFEE99"width=60 style="background: #FF8888"width=60 style="background: #FFEE99"width=60 style="background: #FF8888"width=60 style="background: #FFEE99"width=60 style="background: #FF8888"
4 DFLiam Gordon00001010
6 MFDavor Zdravkovski00001010
7 MFTom Sparrow00001010
12MFHarry Paton00001010
15DFDan Casey00001010
20DFShane Blaney00001010
Players away from the club on loan::
Players who left Motherwell during the season:
TOTALS00006060

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MOTHERWELL RETURN TO DELDEN FOR PRE SEASON . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 20 May 2024 . 20 May 2024.
  2. Web site: 2023/24 END OF SEASON SQUAD UPDATE . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 24 May 2024 . 24 May 2024.
  3. Web site: OBIKA JOINS COACHING STAFF . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 30 May 2024 . 30 May 2024.
  4. Web site: SAM NICHOLSON SECURES PERMANENT ML1 SWITCH . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 31 May 2024 . 31 May 2024.
  5. Web site: STEPHEN O’DONNELL EXTENDS HIS STAY AT THE CLUB . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 3 June 2024 . 3 June 2024.
  6. Web site: BEVIS MUGABI DEPARTS . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 7 June 2024 . 7 June 2024.
  7. Web site: KOFI BALMER IS OUR FIRST SUMMER SIGNING . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 15 June 2024 . 11 June 2024.
  8. Web site: TOM SPARROW IS A STEELMAN . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 15 June 2024 . 12 June 2024.
  9. Web site: JOHNNY KOUTROUMBIS ARRIVES IN MOTHERWELL . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 15 June 2024 . 15 June 2024.
  10. Web site: SAY HELLO TO ROSS CALLACHAN . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 19 June 2024 . 19 June 2024.
  11. Web site: ROSS TIERNEY BIDS FAREWELL TO FIR PARK . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 20 June 2024 . 20 June 2024.
  12. Web site: ZACH ROBINSON SIGNS TWO-YEAR DEAL . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 20 June 2024 . 20 June 2024.
  13. Web site: FILIP STUPAREVIC HAS ARRIVED . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 21 June 2024 . 20 June 2024.
  14. Web site: CALLUM SLATTERY SIGNS ON . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 21 June 2024 . 20 June 2024.
  15. Web site: LIAM GORDON BECOMES OUR LATEST ADDITION . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 24 June 2024 . 24 June 2024.
  16. Web site: KRISZTIÁN HEGYI JOINS ON LOAN FOR THE SEASON . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 30 June 2024 . 28 June 2024.
  17. Web site: OUR NEW LEFT-BACK HAS ARRIVED . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 2 July 2024 . 2 July 2024.
  18. Web site: EIGHT ACADEMY GRADUATES MAKE STEP UP . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 12 July 2024 . 12 July 2024.
  19. Web site: MATTY CONNELLY SIGNS ONE-YEAR EXTENSION . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 12 July 2024 . 12 July 2024.
  20. Web site: PAUL MCGINN IS OUR NEW CLUB CAPTAIN . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 15 July 2024 . 15 July 2024.
  21. Web site: MARVIN KALETA JOINS ON LOAN . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 15 July 2024 . 15 July 2024.
  22. Web site: THEO BAIR MOVES ON . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 16 July 2024 . 16 July 2024.
  23. Web site: OLLY WHYTE JOINS COWDENBEATH UNTIL JANUARY . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 17 July 2024 . 17 July 2024.
  24. Web site: APOSTOLOS STAMATELOPOULOS IS A MOTHERWELL PLAYER . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 30 July 2024 . 30 July 2024.
  25. Web site: Tony Watt returns on loan . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 13 August 2024 . 13 August 2024.
  26. Web site: Connelly goes on loan until January . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 14 August 2024 . 14 August 2024.
  27. Web site: Tawanda Maswanhise completes ML1 move . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 19 August 2024 . 18 August 2024.
  28. Web site: ASTON OXBOROUGH JOINS MOTHERWELL . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 13 August 2022 . 13 August 2022.
  29. Web site: STEPHEN O’DONNELL SIGNS FOR MOTHERWELL . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 13 August 2020 . 13 August 2020.
  30. Web site: DAN CASEY JOINS MOTHERWELL . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 3 February 2023 . 3 February 2023.
  31. Web site: DAN CASEY RETURNS . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 15 July 2023 . 14 July 2023.
  32. Web site: PAUL MCGINN SIGNS FOR MOTHERWELL . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 22 June 2022 . 22 June 2022.
  33. Web site: SHANE BLANEY JOINS MOTHERWELL . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 19 December 2022 . 19 December 2022.
  34. Web site: TWELVE ACADEMY GRADUATES TURN PROFESSIONAL . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 1 July 2021 . 28 June 2021.
  35. Web site: DAVOR ZDRAVKOVSKI ARRIVES AT FIR PARK . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 21 July 2023 . 21 July 2023.
  36. Web site: CALLUM SLATTERY SIGNS . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 24 July 2021 . 24 July 2021.
  37. Web site: ANDY HALLIDAY ARRIVES IN ML1 . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 19 January 2024 . 19 January 2024.
  38. Web site: HARRY PATON JOINS UNTIL END OF SEASON . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 1 April 2023 . 1 April 2023.
  39. Web site: HARRY PATON SIGNS TWO-YEAR DEAL . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 22 June 2023 . 22 June 2023.
  40. Web site: TEN 2022/23 ACADEMY GRADUATES TURN PROFESSIONAL . motherwellfc.co.uk/ . Motherwell F.C. . 24 June 2022 . 24 June 2022.
  41. Web site: LENNON MILLER SIGNS ONE-YEAR EXTENSION . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 4 June 2024 . 15 November 2023.
  42. Web site: MOSES EBIYE ARRIVES IN ML1 . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 5 March 2024 . 5 March 2024.
  43. Web site: DYLAN WELLS AGREES TWO-YEAR EXTENSION . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 13 April 2024 . 12 April 2024.
  44. Web site: THEO BAIR MAKES SWITCH TO ML1 . motherwellfc.co.uk . Motherwell F.C. . 1 August 2023 . 1 August 2023.
  45. Web site: Blues swoop for Mo . stranraerfc.org . Stranraer F.C. . 8 July 2024 . 9 June 2024.