Brampton World Cup star joins Scottish Premiership side on short-term deal
Published February 16, 2024 at 3:46 pm
Canadian international winger Junior Hoilett always looks good in red, and the World Cup veteran will now be wearing the red kit of Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen after signing a short-term deal that will take the Brampton player to the end of the season.
Hoilett, 33, is a veteran of 62 international caps for Canada, including appearances in all three World Cup matches in Qatar in 2022. He also brings a huge amount of experience at the top level, including six years in the English Premiership.
Hoilett moved to England to join the Blackburn Rovers Academy in 2003 and made his professional debut for Rovers in 2007 after having two loan spells in Germany’s Bundesliga 2. He scored 14 goals in 67 starts and 92 appearances for Blackburn.
The left sided player went on to have spells with Queens Park Rangers when they were in the top division and then helped Cardiff City to promotion. During his 184 appearances for the Welsh club he scored 25 goals and provided 22 assists. He moved to Reading in England before returning to Canada to join MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps in 2023.
The signing reunites him with Aberdeen skipper Neil Warnock, who worked with the winger at Queen’s Park Rangers and Cardiff City,
“Junior is a player I know well; he’s played for me three times so I know him inside out”, said Warnock. “He’s an international player and I think he’ll benefit the squad between now and the end of the season.”
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Having got the call out the blue from the manager, Hoilett couldn’t wait come to the north-east and join him.
“I’ve worked with the gaffer before so it was a no brainer to come up here and join him,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity and I’m just happy at the prospect of getting back out there playing football again under a manager who knows how to get the best out of the squad. I’ve no doubt he’ll get everyone working together so I’m delighted to be here.”
“I still have a lot of fire in me for the game. I want to enjoy playing football again. I have been keeping fit training with Reading and just waiting for the right opportunity to come along. When the gaffer phoned it was a blessing and I am delighted to be here.”
Aberdeen, which has never been relegated from Scotland’s top flight since their first appearance in 1905, has won four league titles and seven FA Cups in their storied history.
Their greatest success came in the 1980s when they broke up the domination of ‘Old Firm’ Glasgow clubs Celtic and Rangers to win three league crowns and four FA Cups – as well as the 1983 European Cup Winners Cup and Super Cup – under legendary manager Alex Ferguson.
The club is currently seventh in the table with 26 points in 24 games.
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