Aberdeen snap up Dilan Markanday on loan from Blackburn Rovers for the rest of the season; Markanday came through the ranks at Spurs and became the first South Asian heritage player in Tottenham's history when he played in a Europa Conference League game away at Vitesse
Wednesday 1 February 2023 15:16, UK
Aberdeen have completed the signing of Blackburn Rovers forward Dilan Markanday on loan for the rest of the season.
Sky Sports News revealed Aberdeen had made a breakthrough in negotiations on Monday with the player travelling up to Scotland to undergo a medical just before the window closed.
Markanday is a Tottenham academy graduate, who resisted a number of offers - including at least one from Scotland - when he left north London to join Rovers in the January 2022 transfer window.
The 21-year-old has scored two goals in six appearances for Rovers this season, but has been unable to find regular game-time at Ewood Park under Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Markanday spent more than a decade at Spurs and became the first South Asian heritage player in Tottenham's history when he entered the pitch as a second-half substitute in a Europa Conference League game away at Vitesse.
However, the Barnet-born forward decided to prioritise first-team football, completing a transfer to Blackburn a few months later - only to suffer a hamstring injury after an impressive Sky Bet Championship debut for Rovers against Hull.
Tony Mowbray - who was in charge at Rovers when they signed Markanday - left the club at the end of last season, and minutes have been hard to come by for the forward under Mowbray's successor, Tomasson.
Markanday joins fellow English-born Punjabi footballer Yan Dhanda in the Scottish Premiership.
Dhanda plays for Ross County and scored direct from a corner against Hibernian on Tuesday night after also netting in a 3-0 win for the Staggies against Kilmarnock last weekend.
Markanday was not signed in time to be in contention for Wednesday's visit of St Mirren to Pittodrie in the Premiership, but is expected to be available for Saturday's visit of Motherwell.
On Deadline Day Aberdeen also signed Ajax goalkeeper Jay Gorter on loan and defender Angus MacDonald from Watford until the summer.
Aberdeen also announced captain Anthony Stewart and winger Vicente Besuijen have headed out on loan for the rest of the season to MK Dons and Dutch side Excelsior respectively.
Excelsior have the option to make Besuijen's move permanent in the summer.
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