The 2023–24 season was Motherwell's thirty-ninth 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 26 May, Motherwell announced a week-long training camp in Delden, Netherlands.
On 31 May, Motherwell announced that Josh Morris had been released from his contract early, and that negotiations for new contracts where taking place with Jake Carroll, Logan Dunachie, Daniel Hunter, Kian Speirs, Jack Aitchison, Matthew Connelly, Max Johnston, Ewan Wilson, Dan Casey, Dean Cornelius, Sean Goss, Mikael Mandron, David Devine and Corey O’Donnell.
The draw for the 2023–24 Scottish League Cup took place on 8 June, drawing Motherwell at home to Queen's Park and East Fife, and away to Elgin City and Queen of the South.
On 21 June, Motherwell announced that Matthew Connelly and Ewan Wilson had signed new contracts with the club until the summer of 2024, whilst Sam Campbell had signed a short-term contract with the club. The following day, 22 June, Motherwell confirmed that Dean Cornelius had turned down a new contract with the club and signed for Harrogate Town, and that Harry Paton had signed a new two-year contract with the club.
Transfers On 19 June, Motherwell announced the permanent signing of Jonathan Obika from Morecambe to a one-year contract with the option of a further year. The following day, 20 June, Motherwell announced that Kevin van Veen had left the club to join Groningen for an undisclosed fee.
On 4 July, Motherwell announced the signing of Conor Wilkinson to a two-year contract after his Walsall contract had ended the previous season.
On 11 July, Motherwell announced that Riku Danzaki had left the club.
On 14 July, Robbie Mahon joined Edinburgh City on a season-long loan deal and announced the return Dan Casey on a two-year contract.
On 15 July, Sam Campbell joined Annan Athletic on a six-month loan deal.
On 17 July, Motherwell announced the signing of free-agent Pape Souaré to a six-month contract.
On 21 July, Motherwell announced the signing of Davor Zdravkovski to a two-year contract from AEL Limassol.
On 24 July, Ross Tierney joined Walsall on a season-long loan deal.
On 26 July, Connor Shields left the club to join Indian Super League club Chennaiyin FC.
On 1 August, Motherwell announced the signing of free agent Theo Bair to a two-year contract.
On 3 August, Motherwell announced the season-long loan signing of Mika Biereth from Arsenal.
On 4 August, Adam MacDonald joined Cowdenbeath on loan for the season.
On 18 August, Barry Maguire joined Kidderminster Harriers on loan until January 2024.
On 24 August, Brodie Spencer joined Motherwell on a season-long loan deal from Huddersfield Town. The following day, 25 August, Robbie Garcia joined Cowdenbeath on loan until January, whilst Ricki Lamie joined Dundee on loan for the season on 26 August.
On 31 August, Motherwell announced the season-long loan signing of Oli Shaw from Barnsley. The following day, 1 September, Georgie Gent joined on a season-long loan from Blackburn Rovers.
September On 11 September, Joseph Efford left the club after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement.
On 29 September, Mark Ferrie joined Stenhousemuir on loan until January 2024, whilst Ewan Wilson joined Stirling Albion on loan for the remainder of the season. The following day, 30 September, Nathan McGinley joined Partick Thistle on loan until January 2024.
November On 15 November, Motherwell and Lennon Miller agreed to a one-year extension to his contract, that would see the midfielder stay with the club until the summer of 2026.
December On 22 December, Motherwell announced that young goalkeeper Matthew Connelly had joined East Kilbride on loan for the remainder of the season.
January Transfers On 1 January, Motherwell announced that Pape Souaré had left the club after his contract had expired.
On 3 January, Huddersfield Town exercised a break clause in Brodie Spencer loan deal, ending the players time with Motherwell. Later the same day, Conor Wilkinson left the club for an undisclosed fee to join Colchester United.
On 4 January, Motherwell confirmed the departure of Sam Campbell from the club after his contract expired.
On 11 January, Arran Bone joined Lowland League club Gala Fairydean Rovers on loan for the remainder of the season, and Robbie Mahon joined Dundalk on a permanent deal.
On 15 January, Motherwell announced the signing of Adam Montgomery from Celtic on loan until the end of the season.
On 19 January, Motherwell announced the signing of Andy Halliday on loan from Heart of Midlothian until the end of the season, where the deal will then become a permanent one-year contract between the two.
On 22 January, Motherwell announced the signing of free-agent Callan Elliot on a contract until the end of the season. The following day, 23 January, Nathan McGinley departed the club by mutual consent and Sam Nicholson signed on a contract until the end of the season.
On 24 January, Motherwell announced that Oli Shaw had returned to Barnsley to continue his injury recovery at his parent club, ending his loan spell with the club.
On 31 January, Motherwell announced the loan signing of Jack Vale from Blackburn Rovers for the remainder of the season.
February On 1 February, Adam Montgomery returned to Celtic after suffering a serious injury during a training session. Later the same day, Moterwell announced the loan signings until the end of the season of Adam Devine from Rangers and Jili Buyabu from Sheffield United.
On 8 February, Motherwell announced that Oli Shaw had returned to the club from Barnsley following a successful rehabilitation period with his parent club.
On 21 February, Jili Buyabu returned to his parent club Sheffield United for personal reasons.
On 22 February, Motherwell announced that they had extended the contract of Manager Stuart Kettlewell until May 2025.
On 23 February, Motherwell confirmed that defender Ricki Lamie had signed a pre-contract agreement with Dundee with whom he was currently on loan with, and would leave the club at the end of his contract.
March On 5 March, Motherwell announced the signing of free-agent Moses Ebiye on a contract until the summer of 2025.
On 6 March, Ewan Wilson's loan to Stirling Albion was terminated and he joined Beith Juniors on loan for the remainder of the season.
April On 12 April, Motherwell announced that they had extended their contract with Dylan Wells until the summer of 2026.
May 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.
On 30 May, Jonathan Obika announced his retirement from football and joined the coaching staff at Motherwell.
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.
Squad
No. Name Nationality Position Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Contract ends Apps. Goals Goalkeepers 1 Liam Kelly GK Queens Park Rangers 2021 2024 154 0 13 Aston Oxborough GK Unattached 2022 2025 2 0 Defenders 2 Stephen O'Donnell DF Kilmarnock 2020 2024 147 3 3 Georgie Gent DF on loan from Blackburn Rovers 2023 2024 31 2 5 Bevis Mugabi DF Yeovil Town 2019 2024 125 7 15 Dan Casey DF Unattached 2023 2025 44 3 16 Paul McGinn DF Hibernian 2022 2025 80 1 20 Shane Blaney DF Sligo Rovers 2022 2025 37 2 21 Adam Devine DF on loan from Rangers 2024 2024 11 1 22 Adam Montgomery DF on loan from Celtic 2024 2024 1 0 29 Callan Elliot DF Unattached 2024 2024 0 0 66 Calum Butcher DF Unattached 2023 2024 33 0 Midfielders 6 Barry Maguire MF Academy 2015 2024 78 2 7 Blair Spittal MF Ross County 2022 2024 86 19 8 Callum Slattery MF Southampton 2021 2024 94 9 11 Andy Halliday MF on loan from Heart of Midlothian 2024 2024 14 1 12 Harry Paton MF Unattached 2023 2025 39 2 17 Davor Zdravkovski MF Unattached 2023 2025 31 1 19 Sam Nicholson MF on loan from Colorado Rapids 2024 2024 16 2 38 Lennon Miller MF Academy 2022 2026 37 2 Forwards 9 Jonathan Obika FW Morecambe 2023 2024 (+1) 24 4 14 Theo Bair FW Unattached 2023 2025 41 15 18 Oli Shaw FW on loan from Barnsley 2023 2024 19 0 24 Moses Ebiye FW Unattached 2024 2025 6 2 28 Jack Vale FW on loan from Blackburn Rovers 2024 2024 14 3 Development team 30 Mark Ferrie FW Academy 2022 2025 10 0 33 Muhammad Adam FW Academy 2017 2024 0 0 35 Brannan McDermott DF Academy 2022 2025 0 0 36 Robbie Garcia DF Academy 2022 2024 0 0 37 Dylan Wells MF Academy 2022 2026 2 0 39 Luca Ross FW Academy 2022 2025 5 1 40 Shay Nevans FW Academy 2022 2024 0 0 41 Josh Bogan GK Academy 2022 2024 0 0 42 Max Ross DF Academy 2022 2025 0 0 43 Olly Whyte MF Academy 2023 2025 0 0 44 Zack Tomany FW Academy 2023 2025 0 0 45 Campbell Forrest MF Academy 2023 2025 0 0 46 Scott Williamson DF Academy 2023 2025 0 0 47 Zack Flatman DF Academy 2023 2025 0 0 48 Derin Marshall DF Academy 2023 2025 0 0 49 Devon Johnston MF Academy 2023 2025 0 0 50 Ross Nelson DF Academy 2023 2025 0 0 51 Kyle Aitken GK Academy 2023 0 0 52 Mikey Booth MF Academy 2023 2025 0 0 U18 Away on loan 4 Ricki Lamie DF Livingston 2020 2024 100 5 23 Ewan Wilson DF Academy 2021 2025 2 0 26 Ross Tierney MF Bohemians 2022 2025 38 4 31 Matthew Connelly GK Academy 2019 2024 0 0 32 Adam MacDonald MF Academy 2015 2024 0 0 34 Arran Bone DF Academy 2022 2024 0 0 Left during the season 11 Joseph Efford FW Waasland-Beveren 2022 2024 31 4 19 Nathan McGinley DF Forest Green Rovers 2020 2024 57 0 22 Brodie Spencer DF on loan from Huddersfield Town 2023 2024 18 0 24 Mika Biereth FW on loan from Arsenal 2023 2024 15 6 25 Sam Campbell DF Academy 2021 2023 0 0 27 Jili Buyabu DF on loan from Sheffield United 2024 2024 1 0 28 Robbie Mahon FW Bohemians 2022 1 0 29 Connor Shields FW Queen of the South 2021 2024 53 3 77 Pape Souaré DF Unattached 2023 2024 6 0 99 Conor Wilkinson FW Unattached 2023 2025 19 4
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref19 June 2023FWJonathan ObikaMorecambeUndisclosed4 July 2023FWConor WilkinsonUnattachedFree17 July 2023DFPape SouaréUnattachedFree21 July 2023MFDavor ZdravkovskiUnattachedFree1 August 2023FWTheo BairUnattachedFree22 January 2024DFCallan ElliotUnattachedFree5 March 2024FWMoses EbiyeUnattachedFree
Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.3 August 2023FWMika BierethArsenal18 January 202424 August 2023DFBrodie SpencerHuddersfield Town3 January 202431 August 2023FWOli ShawBarnsleyEnd of season1 September 2023DFGeorgie GentBlackburn RoversEnd of season15 January 2024DFAdam MontgomeryCelticEnd of season19 January 2024MFAndy HallidayHeart of MidlothianEnd of season23 January 2024MFSam NicholsonColorado RapidsEnd of season31 January 2024FWJack ValeBlackburn RoversEnd of season1 February 2024DFAdam DevineRangersEnd of season1 February 2024DFJili BuyabuSheffield United21 February 2024
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.20 June 2023FWKevin van VeenGroningenUndisclosed26 July 2023FWConnor ShieldsChennaiyin FCUndisclosed3 January 2024FWConor WilkinsonColchester UnitedUndisclosed11 January 2024FWRobbie MahonDundalkUndisclosed
Loans out