Aberdeen

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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While focus is on Aberdeen's transfers this close season, arguably one of their most intriguing bits of business has been midfielder Findlay Marshall signing a new contract.

Not so long ago, the academy graduate seemed destined for the Pittodrie exit.

But a standout season on loan at Championship side Arbroath, combined with the March appointment of Dons head coach Stephen Robinson, resulted in the 20-year-old putting pen to paper on a new deal that will keep him at Pittodrie until summer 2028.

And his old boss at Gayfield, Red Lichties co-manager David Gold, told BBC Scotland: "He has a skill that is very hard to teach.

"When you have got that skill, it can be implemented at a higher level as well and that is a real knack for getting in the right place at the right time. As a goalscoring opportunity, he gets them, he is always there, he is always in and around it.

"That is a credit to himself, he is fantastic at it, so I just think that is something he can really transfer to a higher level.

"He is always fit, he is robust, he looks after himself.

"It is not going to be easy for him, he will be under no illusion about that as well but if you are asking me can he grow to that level and really go and be a Scottish Premiership star? Then absolutely."

The season before last, Marshall enjoyed an impressive campaign in League 1 with Cove Rangers, scoring eight times in 38 appearances.

But it was in the second tier at Arbroath where he really caught the eye.

He established himself as a star performer at Arbroath, netting 15 goals in 47 games as the Gayfield team finished third.

Having seamlessly adapted to the challenge every time he has stepped up a level, he will be hoping to do so again by cementing his place in the Aberdeen first team.

And Gold said: "He is fantastic in terms of his ability on the ball, he is both sided, probably equally as strong as each other.

"He has a great temperament to the game, he is never too high, never too low. His attitude is absolutely fantastic and he wants to learn.

"We saw many different parts of his game. A lot of people will see Findlay for the goals he scored for us but he actually played five different positions for us across the midfield, so he showed a versatility for us as a player.

"He has got a good head on his shoulders to go and do really well and kick on in the future as well."

Aberdeen will adopt a model used by Arsenal to choose their new captain following Graeme Shinnie's departure. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Aberdeen will conclude pre-season with a friendly against Linfield in Belfast on 11 July (14:00 BST).

Stephen Robinson's side start their Premier Sports Cup campaign against Highland League side Brora Rangers three days after the game at Windsor Park.

The Dons are currently in the Netherlands for a training camp, where they will play German fourth-tier side FC Bocholt behind closed doors and then FC Twente.

Another behind-closed-doors game against Ross County will follow on 7 July before the visit to Northern Ireland.

Aberdeen have beaten Formartine United 5-0 and Cove Rangers 1-0 in pre-season so far.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen went with a bloated squad last season, labouring to a hugely disappointing ninth-place Premiership finish.

The summer task at Pittodrie is two-fold - recruit better players and offload a number of those who have struggled to make an impact.

Head coach Stephen Robinson is well down the road with the first of those objectives.

He has really started to put his own stamp on the squad, with Moroccan striker Ayoub Mouloua this week becoming his eighth close-season addition.

However, moving on those players who are surplus to requirements is proving much tougher.

With the new arrivals, the Dons squad is now at bursting point, but trimming it is easier is than done, particularly when you are seeking buyers for under-contract fringe players.

Robinson has described sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel's job as the hardest at the club in trying to meet that objective.

There is a long list of players who may benefit from a move away - the likes of Kusini Yengi, Nicolas Milanovic, Ante Palaversa and Peter Ambrose to name just a few.

Some of those seem closer to the exit than others.

While a lot of the focus will rightly be on new signings, who - and how many - players the Dons manage to ship out will be just as important.

Aberdeen have rejected various bids for Topi Keskinen this month, but the offers were well below the club's valuation and they are not actively looking to sell the 23-year-old Finland winger. (Anthony Joseph on X, external)

Aberdeen have turned down multiple bids from Debrecen for Topi Keskinen as they are looking to at least recoup the £800,000 they paid HJK Helsinki for the winger, who is believed to be open to a transfer amid interest from other clubs, including OB Odense. (Daily Record, external)

Elfsborg are closing in on the signing of 24-year-old Aberdeen right-back Alexander Jensen after a fee of around £500,000, plus add-ons, was agreed. (Anthony Joseph on X, external)

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson says they managed to beat a host of Scottish Premiership rivals to winger Tony Yogane from Brentford after his board sanctioned a six-figure transfer fee for the 20-year-old. (Press & Journal, external)

Tokyo Verdy and Omiya Ardija have made offers for Aberdeen striker Kusini Yengi, but the Australian 27-year-old is not keen to stay in Japan after spending the second half of last season on loan at Cerezo Osaka, who are not triggering the buy option. (Anthony Joseph on X, external)

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson has confirmed striker Kusini Yengi will be offered a fresh chance to earn a first-team place after his return from his loan spell with Japanese club Cerezo Osaka. (Press & Journal, external)

Aberdeen striker Marko Lazetic is attracting interest from clubs in Portugal, Turkey, Romania and Serbia after the 22-year-old expressed his desire to leave this summer. (Anthony Joseph on X, external)

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Aberdeen have signed Moroccan striker Ayoub Mouloua from FUS Rabat on a three-year deal.

The 23-year-old put pen to paper on a three-year deal that includes the option of an extra 12 months.

The striker made 21 appearances for Rabat in the Moroccan top flight last term and scored six goals in those outings.

"We have been tracking Ayoub for several months now and have made a number of trips to Morocco to watch him play and get a real feel for the type of player and person he is," head coach Stephen Robinson told club media.

"He's a brave, aggressive striker who will give us a real physical presence in attack, but he's much more than that. He's mobile, works tirelessly for the team and has shown he knows where the goal is.

"When I got the chance to speak with him, it was clear he was hungry for the opportunity to join Aberdeen and take the next step in his career."

Mouloua was the joint top goalscorer in the Moroccan top flight for the 2024/25 season with 11 goals.

The forward has also earned two caps for the Moroccan national side and featured in last summer's African Nations Championship.

"It is a great honour to have the opportunity to join a club with the history and stature of Aberdeen," Mouloua told club media.

"I will always be grateful to everyone at FUS Rabat, the club where I began my career, but I felt this was the right opportunity to continue my development and challenge myself in a new environment.

"I can't wait to get to know my teammates and I will work as hard as I can every day to help bring success to the club and our supporters. I am really looking forward to playing at Pittodrie for the first time."

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Six summer signings featured and Toyosi Olusanya scored as Aberdeen defeated Cove Rangers 1-0 at Balmoral Stadium in a pre-season friendly.

Alexander Briedl, Dan Happe, first-half captain Brad Lyons, Lewis Mayo, Olusanya and Tony Yogane all started for Stephen Robinson's side.

Olusanya, who has joined permanently after last season's loan spell, netted the first-half winner.

Nicky Devlin captained a new XI in the second half, with Nicholas Suman taking over from Rodrigo Vitols in goal.

Robinson's team face Twente in the Netherlands in their next friendly next Saturday.

Aberdeen are closing in on a deal for Moroccan striker Ayoub Mouloua, 23, from FUS Rabat. (Press & Journal - subscription required), external

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Stephen Craigan has joined Stephen Robinson's coaching staff at Aberdeen and will also "oversee the transition of the club's most promising young players into senior football".

The former Northern Ireland captain played in Scotland for Motherwell and Partick Thistle.

Since retiring from playing, the 49-year-old has also had coaching roles with Motherwell and Northern Ireland along with work as a pundit.

"I'm delighted to join Aberdeen," Craigan said. "The opportunity to come to a club of this size was one I was incredibly excited about and I'm looking forward to supporting the staff and players.

"There is a real sense of excitement around the place ahead of the new season and I'm looking forward to playing my part as we all work towards delivering success.

"One of the biggest attractions of this role was the opportunity to work closely with the club's best young players. That's an area I've always enjoyed and where I believe I've done some of my best work.

"Ultimately, if we can help more young players establish themselves in Aberdeen's first team, contribute to winning matches and go on to enjoy successful careers, then we'll have done our job."

Meanwhile, Aberdeen striker Alfie Bavidge has rejoined Inverness on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old has scored 26 goals in 18 months with Caley Thistle, who will play in the Championship in the new season.

Former Motherwell centre-half Stephen Craigan is poised to join Stephen Robinson's coaching staff at Aberdeen. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Monday's Scottish gossip

Aberdeen are keeping tabs on 24-year-old St Patrick's Athletic midfielder Kian Leavy. (Sun), external

Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Aberdeen have signed former Dundee loanee Tony Yogane on a deal until 2030, with the "really exciting prospect" joining for an undisclosed fee from Brentford.

The 20-year-old winger spent last season on loan at Dens Park - where he scored one goal and contributed five assists in 42 appearances - and Dons manager Stephen Robinson reckons he established himself as one of the best players in the Scottish Premiership.

Yogane began his career in Sheffield Wednesday's academy, then moved to Brentford and progressed through their B team, before a loan spell at Exeter City.

"Tony is a really exciting prospect," Robinson said.

"He is a player with huge potential, as he demonstrated during his time with Dundee last season, where he was one of the best players in the league.

"There were several clubs interested in Tony so it's a real coup for us to get him committed on a long-term deal.

"Tony has a real drive to improve, he's hungry to succeed and we believe this is the right environment to continue his development while helping push the club forward."

Yogane, who made League Cup appearances for Brentford under Thomas Frank, said: "After the season ended, my agent told me Aberdeen were interested and things moved forward quickly. This is the next step up for me.

"Aberdeen is a big club. I want to win things here. It is a big challenge after what happened last season, but we must go out and prove people wrong.

"When we played against Aberdeen last season, I just had a good feeling about the club. Especially when you see the size of the support. I can't wait to see the fans. Hopefully it is an enjoyable season."

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Aberdeen youth academy graduates Alfie Bavidge and Alfie Stewart have signed new deals with the north east club.

Striker Bavidge joined the club at eight years old and made his competitive debut back in 2023. He's since made five first team appearances for the Pittodrie club.

"I feel really good about the new deal," Bavidge told club media.

"At one stage, I wasn't sure what the future would hold, but after speaking with the manager at the end of last season, everything became much clearer.

"He gave me a lot of belief and confidence. The dream has always been to be an Aberdeen player, and I have been given another opportunity to prove myself."

Stewart, 19, is yet to make his senior debut for the Dons and spent last season on loan at Inverness alongside Bavidge. Stewart made 48 appearances and scored eight goals as the club secured promotion to the Championship.

"It has taken a little while for everything to get done, but once I heard the news, I was absolutely buzzing," Stewart said.

"When the season finished at Inverness, we came back and played in a bounce game. The manager called me into his office and said he would like me to stay. He said he liked how I play and what he had seen from me at Inverness. He wanted to keep me here and that was great to hear.

"I have been an Aberdeen fan my whole life. When you come into the professional setup, the aim is always to push on and make it into the first team. That is something I am now ready to challenge for."

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Aberdeen forward Marko Lazetic, 22, is attracting interest from clubs in Sweden and Switzerland. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

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Midfielder Connor Ronan "can't wait to get started" after joining Aberdeen on a two-year contract with the option of a further year.

The 28-year-old previously played under Dons boss Stephen Robinson at St Mirren and was most recently with Colorado Rapids.

He also has experience in England, Slovakia and Switzerland, with a total of 275 senior appearances and 15 goals so far.

Robinson told the Aberdeen website: "He's a creative player who will bring valuable experience to our midfield. He has a strong work ethic, can score goals and has clearly matured during his time in MLS.

"Just as importantly, he has the character and professionalism that we want within the squad."

And Ronan added: "I'm delighted to have everything finalised and can't wait to get started.

"From the first conversations I had with the manager, it was clear what the club is trying to build and where I fit into those plans.

"I've also worked with Stephen before and I know exactly what he'll expect from me. That was a really important factor.

"I want to be part of helping the club compete at the top end of the table, return to Europe and challenge for trophies."

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Forward Toyosi Olusanya is "buzzing to be back" at Aberdeen after agreeing a two-year deal at Pittodrie.

The former St Mirren attacker, 28, had a loan spell at the Dons from Houston Dynamo last season and leaves the Major League Soccer outfit at the end of his contract. Englishman Olusanya scored twice in 18 Aberdeen appearances between January and May.

He played for eight different clubs in his homeland before joining St Mirren in 2022, during current Dons boss Stephen Robinson's spell in charge of the Buddies. He was loaned to Arbroath in 2023 and joined Houston in 2025. Dynamo loaned Olusanya to Doncaster Rovers before his first spell at Aberdeen.

"Toyosi made a really positive impact during his time with us last season and we're delighted to bring him back to the club," Robinson told the Aberdeen website.

"He gives us something different in the final third. His pace, power and energy make him a difficult opponent for defenders, while his work ethic and attitude are exactly what we want within the group. We believe there is much more to come from him."

And Olusanya said: "I am buzzing to be back. From the moment I arrived in January, I felt welcomed by everyone at the club.

"Coming in during the middle of a season isn't always easy. I was still working my way back to full fitness and adapting to a new environment, but I felt I improved as the weeks went on and now I have the opportunity to start again with a full pre-season behind me.

"I know the manager well and I know exactly what he expects from me."

Toyosi Olusanya has agreed a two-year contract with Aberdeen after Houston Dynamo decided against triggering a 12-month extension for the 28-year-old striker following his loan spell at Pittodrie. (Press & Journal), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Connor Ronan will sign a two-year contract with Aberdeen, with an option of a further 12 months, after the 28-year-old midfielder's exit from Colorado Rapids. (Daily Record), external

Aberdeen are considering signing Dave Richards after the 32-year-old goalkeeper turned down a new contract with Dundee United. (Daily Record), external

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Goalkeeper Per Kristian Bratveit has left Aberdeen just six months into an 18-month contract.

The 30-year-old Norwegian joined in January after his contract ran out with Stromsgodset in his homeland but made just six appearances for the Scottish Premiership club.

Bratveit had arrived as back-up to number one Dimitar Mitov after Nick Suman picked up a serious ankle injury in training.

He becomes the ninth player to exit Pittodrie in Stephen Robinson's first transfer window as manager.

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Aberdeen will take on Dutch Eredivisie side Twente in a pre-season friendly on Saturday 4, July.

The match at Sportcomplex GFC in Goor, Overijssel will kick off at 13:00 BST.

Stephen Robinson's side will spend a week in the Netherlands as part of their 2026-27 preparations.

Prior to the match with Twente, the Dons meet Scottish League 1 Cove Rangers, managed by former Aberdeen player Paul Hartley. That game at Balmoral will take place on Saturday, 27 June at 14:00.

There will also be closed-door games in and around the meetings with Cove and Twente.

"Pre-season is a crucial time for us to build both physically and tactically and it will be important as we integrate new faces into the squad," Robinson told Aberdeen's website.

"The opportunity to take the team away to work together intensively and face strong opponents like FC Twente is extremely valuable for the group.

"It will be a good test and alongside a comprehensive schedule of pre-season matches, will act as an important step in our preparations for the season ahead."

Improving Aberdeen's away form is a priority for manager Stephen Robinson. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Friday's Scottish gossip

Aberdeen have lined up a deal for Toyosi Olusanya but are waiting to discover if Houston Dynamo will trigger the option to extend the striker's deal by another year. (Aberdeen Live)

Blau-Weiss Linz's sporting director Christoph Schosswender says his club spent the entire season trying to convince new Aberdeen midfielder Alexander Briedl to sign a new contract. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.