Aberdeen

It was a frustrating afternoon as Dundee picked up their first win at Pittodrie since 15th of May, 2004 in a 3-2 victory. Aberdeen started off brightly where it took just 13 minutes for Aberdeen to fire ahead as Kevin Nisbet had his effort in the back of the net as Aberdeen looked as they could’ve had more. Aberdeen were reduced to 10 just before the break as Liam Morrison denied Dundee a goal-scoring opportunity as Leven quotes: “We stopped playing football, they equalise and then there’s the red card. We need to be better at dealing with a long ball. But he’s cut across him, I’m not sure what he can do and I don’t know why we’re punished twice. But we’ve got to take it on the chin.” Leven added: “We’ve got to take out chances and go two or three-nil up. But we get a wee bit nervy and stop doing what we did early on. That’s two red cards in two games – it’s not good enough.” Dundee were then awarded a penalty following the foul where Simon Murray made no mistake and slotted the Dees’ a way back into the match. Right before the break, Joel Cotterill had Dundee ahead on the brink of half-time to send the away end into mayhem after an attempt from very close range and made no mistake and gave Dundee the lead going into the break. Dundee had the better first half start but Kevin Nisbet midway through the second 45 had a free-kick from distance and whipped it high into the top left-hand corner to level up the game. Dundee found themselves in front once again as an absolute stunner by Ethan Hamilton from far out right into the top right-hand corner which was near impossible to stop with the amount of power on the strike which smacked the bar and rattled the back of the net to give the Dees’ a famous win in Aberdeen. Leven said: “I thought at times we were good in the second half. We get it back to 2-2 and it’s got to be a point in that game. We turn the ball over too easy, we’ve got to go up the line and gain territory. But we gave it away and don’t defend the shot.”

Leighton Clarkson has departed the Dons for English League One side Blackpool. Clarkson who started up in the Liverpool academy making three appearances for the Premier League side before making a loan switch to English Championship side Blackburn Rovers but failing to make any impact at Edwood Park. A loan move to Scotland was up next where the ex-Liverpool man impressed in the Granite City in which earned him a permanent switch from Anfield to Pittodrie. During his time up North, Leighton has made 154 appearances for Aberdeen netting 18 times and grabbing 17 assists along the way. Clarkson has made 5 caps in the England U20s side but failing to register any goal or assist for his nation. Following his departure, Leighton said: “From the moment I arrived on loan, I felt at home here and I want to thank all the coaches and club staff, both past and present, who have helped me over the years. “I’ve been fortunate to be part of many dressing rooms, but I have had some special moments with my teammates here and made friends for life, so I want to thank all of them. “Finally, I want to thank the fans who have given me their full backing since the day I arrived. Pittodrie is a special place, and I leave with lots of happy memories, particularly after the cup win last year. Getting the chance to celebrate with the supporters during the parade is something I will never forget.” Leighton has struggled for games this season under Jimmy Thelin but since the departure of the Swede, the former Liverpool man had returned to the line-up. Clarkson was heavily linked with a move to Luton Town but any deal was brushed under the carpet as Leighton pens a two-and-half-year deal at Blackpool as the Scottish Cup winner ends his three-and-a-half year spell in Scotland.

Aberdeen secured the loan signing of Hoffenheim midfielder Dennis Geiger on loan until the end of the season with Adil Aouchiche being recalled by Sunderland. Aberdeen completed the loan signing of 27-year-old midfielder Dennis Geiger on loan from Bundesliga side, Hoffenheim with an option to buy. Aberdeen will be the first team Dennis has played for outside of Hoffenheim having played for the German side for 11 years. Geiger has made 0 appearances in the German league this campaign despite featuring on 25 occasions last campaign. The German has proven to be unlucky with injuries of late as he looks to pursue game time in Scotland and return to full fitness. Aberdeen fought off many competitors with one club being Ajax as the midfielder chose Scotland over the Dutch giants. In terms of players departing, Adil Aouchiche was recalled by Premier League side, Sunderland as the Frenchman completed a move to German outfit, Schalke. Adil made 16 appearances in red netting on 3 occasions since joining on loan in the summer. The former PSG man made his dons debut in the 2-0 defeat in the league opener at Tynecastle with the midfielder’s only three goals coming against Dundee with one in a 4-0 win at Pittodrie and a brace in a 3-1 win at Dens Park. Adil said: “I’d like to thank all the people working for this club, my teammates and of course the fans. This club is huge and the fans deserve happy days. They are all really important for the player and i wish Aberdeen all the best for the future.”

Aberdeen have today completed the deal for Kaiserslautern midfielder, Afeez Aremu as the Nigerian becomes Aberdeen’s fifth January signing joining on a deal until 2028. The 26-year-old began his career at Nigerian side, Sunshine Stars where he made 15 appearances scoring twice before completing a move to Nigerian outfit, Rivers United where Afeez made 13 appearances with 1 goal. A year on, the midfielder made the move to Nigerian Premier League side, Akwa United making just 9 appearances with 0 goals. Akeef then decided to make a move to Norway to join IK Start making 60 appearances with 4 goals and 1 assist in the process. After a 2-year stint in Norway, the Nigerian made the switch to Germany to join St Pauli where he became a regular starter, racking up 54 appearances for the Bundesliga side where he spent three years before joining fellow German side FC Kaiserslautern featuring 28 times for the Bundesliga 2 side where the midfielder failed to grab any goal or assist in his three-year spell. Aremu has featured on three occasions for Nigeria U20s with 1 appearance for the Nigerian National Team. The fee is reportedly believed to be 250K with the Dons set to lose fellow midfielder Dante Polvara in the coming days.    

Aberdeen flop Kusini Yengi has finalised a move to Japan to join Cerezo Osaka on loan after a disappointing spell in Scotland. The Australian striker had many other options but has opted to open up a new chapter in Japan with Cerezo Osaka and Australian boss, Arthur Papas looking to join up with Yengi with the pair knowing each other from their A-League days. Yengi joined Aberdeen from EFL side, Portsmouth in the summer and has failed to make any impact in the Granite City with the striker now being far down the pecking order at Pittodrie. Yengi is hopeful of getting a spot on the plane with Australia to the 2026 World Cup in America as he searches for some much needed game time. The former Portsmouth man has only scored once for the Dons’ since joining from England with the only goal coming in the Scottish League Cup in a 3-0 away win at Greenock Morton. Kusini hasn’t featured for Aberdeen since the 11th of December after coming off the bench in a 1-0 defeat to French outfit, Strasbourg. The Aussie forward was last on the team sheet on the 18th of December but didn’t feature in a 3-0 defeat at Sparta Prague. The last full start for Yengi was when in August in that 3-0 win in Greenock. Despite his form at Aberdeen, he has netted on six occasions for the Australian National Team in eight outings so far this season. Yengi started off at Adelaide United in Australia where spent 3 years at but failing to get going ahead of a switch to Western Sydney Wanderers where he featured 19 times scoring just four goals. Yengi then moved to English League One side, Portsmouth netting 13 times in 31 helping Portsmouth get to the Championship but no goals in 14 as the striker struggled in the Championship. A move to Pittodrie was up next but hasn’t been able to get the Aberdeen support excited with just 1 goal in 10 outings as he aims for vital game in in Japan.  

Aberdeen add to their options between the sticks, confirming the signing of Norwegian keeper Per Kristian Bråtviet on an 18-month deal at Pittodrie. Aberdeen have needed a keeper of late, with first-choice keeper Dimitar Mitov not having the best of times of late as well as Aberdeen backup keeper Nick Suman suffering an ankle injury this week. The 29-year-old came through the ranks at boyhood side FK Haugesund, where he spent 5 years as first-choice keeper before departing for Swedish side Djurgården, where he made 37 appearances. The 6’2 keeper then moved to Nimes in France, only spending the one season, racking up 31 appearances for the French side before joining Vålerenga’s second team during the coronavirus season, only picking up two appearances. A move to Odds was up next, failing to get going with just 13 appearances for the Norwegian outfit. The Norwegian keeper then made a move to Strømsgodset, spending two years at the club, being a key aspect of the team, making 58 appearances across two seasons, before making his move to Scotland to join Aberdeen. Having sealed the deal, new signing Per said: “It feels really good to be here”, said Per. “When Aberdeen made contact it was an easy decision for me to make. I had finished my time in Norway, and I want to do something different, and Aberdeen is such a big club it felt like a great opportunity. “I’m to get to know the league and Scottish football in general. I’ve played in a lot of countries which have given me a lot of experience, but I am excited to call Aberdeen home now.” Aberdeen Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel said: “When we learned the extent of Nick’s injury, we moved quickly to sign Per Kristian, whose contract with Strømsgodset had come to an end last month. “He is an experienced goalkeeper, having played extensively across several strong leagues and clubs, and he also has senior international experience with Norway. “He will provide real competition within the goalkeeping department as we continue to strengthen the squad.”

Aberdeen have captured the loan signing of former St Mirren star, Toyosi Olusanya on loan until the end of the season Olusanya has made the move back to Scotland following time in America in Houston. Olusanya will boost the Aberdeen attacking options as the Pittodrie side have struggled in the final third this campaign. The English striker began his youth days at Reading before making the move into the Middlesbrough academy. AFC Wimbledon then snapped up the striker on loan but Toyosi failed to make an impact in London where he made the switch to non-league Billericay Town for a second loan spell scoring just once in eight game in the Covid season. The striker then made the move to Paisley joining St Mirren where the 28-year-old got off to a slow start for the Buddies. A move to Arbroath on loan came along struggling to make any impact at Gayfield. Upon his return to St Mirren, that’s where the Englishman kicked on scoring 7 in 42 games being a key player in Paisley. The following season, Olusanya netted 12 times in 38 games in which he made a big move to the MLS joining Houston Dynamo but has failed to find the net in 11 appearances. Toyosi spent the first half of this campaign on loan to English League One side, Doncaster Rovers featuring 11 times but leaving with 0 goals to his name. Olusanya has proven to enjoy a goal against Aberdeen during his days in Paisley netting on 4 occasions in 5 games against the Pittodrie side.

Jesper Karlsson who joined on loan from Bologna has departed Scotland following the departure of Jimmy Thelin Jesper Karlsson joined Aberdeen in the summer on loan from Italian side, Bologna and to play under his former boss Jimmy Thelin once again. Karlsson came in with big expectations with once being linked with a big money move to Manchester United a few years ago. Jesper joined the Italian side from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar for £10million but has failed to get going in Italy. The signing was made on the last day of the summer window as the Swede looked to be an impressive signing but has failed to live up to what was hyped. The winger is currently the Dons top goal scorer with 6 goals to his name in 26 appearances but his season long loan looks to be cut short with the Swedish International set to join Dutch outfit Utrecht on loan for the remainder of the season. Karlsson didn’t feature for Bologna this campaign meaning a move to the Netherlands would be allowed according to reports in Sweden. Ex-Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin believed many of the players had issues with their egos as he said in his final interview as Aberdeen boss following a 1-0 defeat at Falkirk stating the players must “drop egos” with Karlsson being one of the players who seemed to have an ego issue with many fans also suggesting his ego was too high at Pittodrie.