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Scotsman
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
From Aberdeen to Zagreb: The Scottish football phenomenon that is no longer raising eyebrows
McKenna move and Miller speculation another example of why it's not just English clubs that want our players Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It was interesting to note the picture of Scott McKenna arriving at Zagreb airport that has been circulating on social media. He is captured meeting a Croatian delegation from Dinamo Zagreb, the Scotland defender's latest club. The reason the photograph catches the attention is not just because McKenna looks every bit as happy as anyone who has just a signed 'multi-year' contract - as it's been described – with the Croatian giants should look. Also drawing focus is the state of the two, it might even be three, suitcases that are included in the picture beside him. They appear be in pretty good condition. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How can that be possible? They ought at the very least to look slightly battered. McKenna's career itinerary now reads like the tour stops of a rock band on a second-album-fans'-consolidation tour: places include Aberdeen, Nottingham, Copenhagen, Las Palmas and now Zagreb, where judging by the reaction, he's been welcomed with considerable enthusiasm by the locals who admire his intrepidness. Scott McKenna spent last season at Las Palmas and has now signed for Dinamo Zagreb. | AFP via Getty Images As for back home, the news has been greeted more matter-of-factly. 'Aye, I see that's McKenna away to Zagreb,' people are noting with a shrug. I mean, when two Scots have just lifted the Scudetto and another triumphed in the Italian Cup, it will take something pretty special to register on the Scots abroad Richter scale. There's also Max Johnston at current Austrian Bundesliga champions Sturm Graz. All this seems very pertinent as speculation continues about where Johnston's former Motherwell teammate Lennon Miller will be playing football come the Autumn internationals. Abroad? 'Yeah, Potentially,' said his dad, the former Aberdeen forward Lee, last week. Miller appears ideally suited to playing on the continent. About to turn 19, it might be early for the talented midfielder to make such a move, but he looked mature beyond his years while making his full Scotland debut against Liechtenstein in June. He's already comfortable wearing the captain's armband at Fir Park. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad So many examples for Scots to look at He might look towards Scott McTominay, a current demigod at Napoli, and think yes, I quite some fancy some of that. Then there's Oli Burke, more successful on the continent than he is in Britain it seems. His adventures continue with Bundesliga side Union Berlin next season. Perhaps it's understandable that tales of Scots abroad seem somewhat ten a penny these days. A friend recently sent a picture from a bar in Prague. As well as the Tour de France, where a Scot Oscar Onley is currently making an impact, the TV sport options being offered were the Champions League qualifier between Malmo and FC Iberia 1999 and 'Hamilton v Hearts in the Scottish Legue (sic) Cup'. Borders are increasingly irrelevant and have been going that way for a long time in fact. Players such as McKenna are becoming as recognisable abroad as they are in the streets of say, England, where Scottish footballers were and still are found in large numbers. Lennon Miller could be the next Scot to move abroad. | Getty Images Scots were perhaps slow to take up these far-flung opportunities, while clubs abroad were also slow to explore the Scottish market. Now, however, it's a case of go west, young man (Ryan Gauld is at Vancouver Whitecaps while Johnny Russell scored as recently as two weeks ago for Real Salt Lake City)– and east, north and south. Dundee's Fin Robertson even spent part of this summer training with Sergio Ramos and co at CF Monterrey. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jason Cummings recently featured in an entertaining episode of Open Goal. 'I love it mate – it's a different world out there,' reported the striker, who is now playing for Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan. The 29-year-old doesn't sound in a hurry to come back although he is of course nearer to where he now plays international football for Australia. Cummings' quote about it being a different world might be verging on Ian Rush's immortal observation that swapping Liverpool for Juventus was 'like going to a different country'. However, it seems a fair assessment, underlined by him describing pre-match scenes that included a 'ten-year old boy riding a horse waving a flare'. He was further enticed by his agent's discovery that there was 'Kingfisher on tap' in Kolkata. Cummings is having a ball and might not be thinking too deeply about the whys and wherefores of playing abroad and how it's helping his own development, as a person as well as a player. Miller might be different.
San Francisco Chronicle
15-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Jessey Sneijder, son of Wesley Sneijder, signs first professional contract with FC Utrecht
UTRECHT, The Netherlands (AP) — Jessey Sneijder, the son of former Dutch soccer star Wesley Sneijder, has signed his first professional contract with FC Utrecht. The Dutch side said in a statement that the 18-year-old midfielder has been signed until June 2028, with an option to extend the deal for another year. Wesley Sneijder won Serie A, the Champions League and the Italian Cup with Inter Milan in 2010. He was also part of the Netherlands team that made it to the 2010 World Cup final, losing to Spain. 'This is a dream come true,' said Jessey Sneijder. His father posted on Instagram a picture of both men holding the Utrecht jersey. 'I am so very proud of you,' Wesley Sneijder wrote. 'Go to FC Utrecht at the age of 15 and sign your first contract after three years! Your perseverance and willpower have been rewarded.'
Hamilton Spectator
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Jessey Sneijder, son of Wesley Sneijder, signs first professional contract with FC Utrecht
UTRECHT, The Netherlands (AP) — Jessey Sneijder, the son of former Dutch soccer star Wesley Sneijder, has signed his first professional contract with FC Utrecht. The Dutch side said in a statement that the 18-year-old midfielder has been signed until June 2028, with an option to extend the deal for another year. Wesley Sneijder won Serie A, the Champions League and the Italian Cup with Inter Milan in 2010. He was also part of the Netherlands team that made it to the 2010 World Cup final, losing to Spain. 'This is a dream come true,' said Jessey Sneijder. His father posted on Instagram a picture of both men holding the Utrecht jersey. 'I am so very proud of you,' Wesley Sneijder wrote. 'Go to FC Utrecht at the age of 15 and sign your first contract after three years! Your perseverance and willpower have been rewarded.' ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jessey Sneijder, son of Wesley Sneijder, signs first professional contract with FC Utrecht
UTRECHT, The Netherlands (AP) — Jessey Sneijder, the son of former Dutch soccer star Wesley Sneijder, has signed his first professional contract with FC Utrecht. The Dutch side said in a statement that the 18-year-old midfielder has been signed until June 2028, with an option to extend the deal for another year. Wesley Sneijder won Serie A, the Champions League and the Italian Cup with Inter Milan in 2010. He was also part of the Netherlands team that made it to the 2010 World Cup final, losing to Spain. 'This is a dream come true,' said Jessey Sneijder. His father posted on Instagram a picture of both men holding the Utrecht jersey. 'I am so very proud of you,' Wesley Sneijder wrote. 'Go to FC Utrecht at the age of 15 and sign your first contract after three years! Your perseverance and willpower have been rewarded.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP soccer:
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Immobile signs for Bologna after leaving Besiktas
Striker Ciro Immobile has returned to Italy following a season at Besiktas after signing with Bologna, the Serie A club announced on Thursday. The 35-year-old, Lazio's all-time record goalscorer, left Istanbul side Besiktas earlier this week after his contract was terminated. 'The newest member of the Rossoblu family, Ciro Immobile,' the club said on social media. According to Sky Sport Italia, Immobile has signed a one-year deal with an option for a second season. He has made 57 appearances for Italy but has not played for the national side since 2023. Immobile scored 19 goals in 41 games for Besiktas last term. Bologna finished ninth in Serie A last season but qualified for the Europa League by winning the Italian Cup, their first major trophy in 51 years.
