Celtic FC Women have confirmed the surprise departure of Cheyenne Shorts after her contract with Fran Alonso’s side expired.
“Celtic FC Women Women can now confirm that Double Cup winner Cheyenne Short has left the club at the expiry of her contract. Thanks for everything Chey, and all the best for what’s next.”
Shorts leaves Celtic on the back of a League Cup and Scottish Cup double winning season and played a key role in Celtic’s strong defensive back three alongside Kelly Clarke and Caitlin Hayes. Shorts’ departure therefore is something of a shock, given that area of the team appeared to be one that would give Celtic a solid base from which to build for a tilt at a title, after a season where Fran Alonso’s side fell out the league race far too early.
Already this season Celtic have confirmed the exits of Academy graduate Chloe Warrington and young Icelandic star Maria Olafsdottir-Gros, and although both player’s departures were unexpected, they were not nearly as surprising as the departure of the American Shorts.
Celtic however will be looking to strengthen the team this season and perhaps some departures were inevitable if Fran Alonso has his eyes on reinforcements this summer.
It should also be noted in the women’s game contracts are often far shorter than the men’s game and players move regularly between clubs as a result. That situation is no different with Celtic than it is with many other clubs.
As such it may well be Cheyenne Shorts has other irons in the fire herself now her contract has expired, rather than any concerns there is anything worrying going on behind the scenes with so many departures and no new faces so far.
It should also be noted Celtic have extended contracts for the likes of player of the year Jacynta, top defender Catlin Hayes and captain Kelly Clark, as such that certainly doesn’t point to any concerns over an unhappy camp.
Cheyenne Shorts will however be a player greatly missed by the Celtic support. An elegant and strong defender who was comfortable on the ball, there was an assuredness in any supporter’s mind when Shorts was part of Celtic’s established back three, and as a result Fran Alonso has a big task on his hands finding a suitable replacement for our former defender. Yet one look back to last summer when goal a game Sara Ewens was replaced by the 40 goals in a season Charlie Wellings is all the evidence we need to trust Fran Alonso’s judgement in the transfer window.
It is of course sad to see Cheyenne Shorts move on from Celtic but she leaves us having helped write an important chapter in Celtic FC Women and with two cup winners medals to look back on as fondly as we’ll remember her. Best of luck wherever you end up Cheyenne – and thanks for the incredible memories.
Niall J
#CelticFC Women can now confirm that Double Cup winner @cheyenneshorts6 has left the club at the expiry of her contract. Thanks for everything Chey, and all the best for what’s next💚🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/IzN1IdzeW8
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) June 19, 2022
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