Aberdeen

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.  

Aberdeen have completed the signing of QPR defender, Liam Morrison on loan until the end of the campaign Liam Morrison makes a return to Scotland, joining Aberdeen as he eyes up a spot in Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad in America with the 22-year-old hoping for some minutes elsewhere. Morrison began his youth career at Ibrox before he made the move across the city to rivals, Celtic. Liam impressed within the Celtic academy at a young age which earnt the defender a move to German giants, Bayern Munich. The former Celtic man failed to make it into the Bayern Munich first-team, only making it as far as the Bayern Munich second team. Morrison went on loan to English League One side Wigan Athletic where the Scottish centre-back featured 30 for Wigan netting the one time also before completing a move to English Championship outfit, QPR making 31 appearances with 0 goals to his name. Liam has been at the end of a muscle injury of late and has only started to get back going again. Morrison hasn’t featured for the London side since the 29th of December in a 2-1 defeat against West Brom and was also an unused substitute against Norwich on New Years Day. The move to Pittodrie should gain the Ex-Bayern Munich youngster some valuable game time as the defender eyes up a spot on the plane to the USA this summer.

Aberdeen are showing interest in a loan move for former Dundee man, Lyall Cameron as Danny Rohl wants more first team minutes for the midfielder. Aberdeen have held talks with the Ibrox side about taking in Cameron on loan until the end of the season. Aberdeen were keen in the 23-year-old in the summer but the ex-Dundee man chose Ibrox over Pittodrie when departing Dundee. No deal has been agreed as it stands but talks of the loan having an option-to-buy has been discussed as talks are going well between the two sides. Lyall began his career in the Dundee United academy where he went on to join bitter rivals Dundee. The midfielder had multiple loan spells at both Peterhead and Montrose where he then impressed at Dundee making 94 appearances with 22 goals in the process before earning a move to Rangers in the summer. The Dundee born man has made ten appearances in royal blue, grabbing one goal along the way. The 23-year-old has only made two starts which came against Club Brugge and St Mirren with his only goal coming against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League qualifiers. Cameron has been hit with an injury lately as Aberdeen seem to be keen in giving the Rangers man minutes as well as bolstering their midfield options.

The Swede enjoyed a historic high during his tenure, leading Aberdeen to Scottish Cup glory with a memorable victory over holders Celtic at the national stadium. However, despite that success, his spell in the Granite City has now come to an end. Thelin met with the Aberdeen board — Dave Cormack, Allan Burrows and Lutz Pfannenstiel — to formally conclude his departure, as the club begins its search for a sixth manager in the space of just four years. It is fair to say Thelin was backed financially, with significant investment made in Bilalovic, Milanovic and highly rated youngster Mitchell Frame. However, none were able to consistently live up to expectations. Peter Leven will take interim charge alongside Craig Hinchliffe for the upcoming double-header next week, where Aberdeen will face Rangers at Ibrox. Thelin said: “Today my time as manager at Aberdeen comes to an end. It is with great respect for this historic Club that I accept this decision. “Results ultimately decide the tenure of this profession, and as such I take my share of responsibility. “I believe wholly in the work that was done; however, football doesn’t always allow time for belief to become results. I would like to thank the players for their commitment and effort during my time as their coach, and the staff who worked every day with loyalty and pride. “I would also like to thank the supporters. Your passion for your team never waivers, even in disappointment. “Aberdeen will forever be a part of my journey, and it has been an honour to lead this great Club and share that memorable day together at Hampden. “I leave wishing success to everyone involved both on and off the pitch.” Chairman Dave Cormack added: “In wishing Jimmy and Christer the very best for the future I want to thank them for delivering our first Scottish Cup win in 35 years last May. “These memories will last a lifetime, and Jimmy will be forever etched into Aberdeen’s history for delivering such a special day for our supporters, as only one of six Aberdeen managers to win the Scottish Cup in our storied 122-year history. “However, after significant investment in recent windows, we have not kicked on in the way we hoped or expected following that success. We have tried to give the situation as much time as possible, but recent performances have been significantly below the standards we expect, and we believe it is now right to take a different direction.”