Have boots, will travel... young Scots on the road
AARON HICKEY’S £1.5million move to Bologna will see him become the latest young Scot to try and further his career overseas.
Here, Sportsmail takes a look at some of the others who have ventured beyond the UK in recent years — and the mixed results of their travels.
LIAM HENDERSON
The midfielder was 21 when he left Celtic to join Bari in Italy’s Serie B in January 2018. Swiftly adapting to a new style of football, a further move to Hellas Verona later that year enabled Henderson to help the club win promotion via the play-offs.
An appearance in the opening match of the Serie A season against Bologna then made him the first Scot to appear in the Italian top flight since Graeme Souness in 1986.
Now he’s back in Serie B on loan at Empoli, who hold an option to buy.
OLI BURKE
In August 2016, the Kirkcaldy-born winger set a new transfer record for a Scottish player when he left Nottingham Forest to join RB Leipzig in a deal worth up to £15million.
Burke was, however, unable to establish himself with a rising power in German football as questions were raised about his tactical aptitude.
He returned to the UK with West Brom and had a loan spell at Celtic before again venturing abroad with Alaves in La Liga last season.
Burke yesterday joined Premier League side Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee.
RYAN GAULD
Lauded as ‘mini Messi’ after a series of outstanding performances for Dundee United, Gauld was a soughtafter prospect when he agreed a £3m move to Sporting Lisbon in 2014.
Then just 18, he signed a sixyear deal reportedly containing a £48m buy-out clause.
Despite the high hopes, Gauld was unable to make a first-team breakthrough at the Portuguese giants and went through a series of loan moves — including an injury-hit spell at Hibs — before completing a permanent switch to Farense last year.
Excellent form in a promotionwinning season led to Gauld being named as the best player in the Portuguese second tier.
LIAM MORRISON
Teenage centre-back rekindled Bayern Munich’s interest in Scottish talent when he left Celtic to move to Germany in the summer of 2019.
That ambitious step looks to have paid off so far. The 17-year-old has been elevated into Bayern’s Under-19s squad, where he will work under the tutelage of former Argentina defender Martin Demichelis.
Bayern subsequently moved to sign young winger Barry Hepburn, also from Celtic, and were keen on Hickey before he opted for Bologna.
FRASER HORNBY
Hornby became the first Scot in two decades to make a permanent switch to France’s Ligue 1 when he joined Stade de Reims in a £1.75m move from Everton in the summer.
The 20-year-old striker had already gained experience of playing abroad in a successful loan spell with Belgian side Kortrijk.
Speaking earlier this week, Hornby expressed confidence that his game will grow from the experience of playing in one of Europe’s best leagues.
GEORGE JOHNSTON
The Scotland Under-21 centre-back came through the ranks at Liverpool before making a £500,000 switch to Feyenoord in August 2019.
Johnston had to be patient, as a first year in Holland passed without a top-team appearance despite his involvement in a number of matchday squads.
However, the 22-year-old was praised by head coach Dick Advocaat when he stepped into the line-up for a derby friendly against Sparta Rotterdam last month.
DAVID BATES
Broke into the Rangers first team during the 2017-18 season but was unable to agree a new contract and left to sign a four-year deal with Hamburg.
Bates started promisingly in the German second tier before suffering an injury setback that hampered his progress.
The centre-back had a stint with Sheffield Wednesday last term and is now on loan at Cercle Bruges in Belgium.
JACK HENDRY
At 25, Hendry may no longer quite qualify as a young Scot in footballing terms but he has taken to travelling far and wide after dropping out of the first-team picture at Celtic.
In January of this year, he suffered a knee injury following a move to Melbourne City.
Now on loan at KV Oostende in Belgium.