Image source: bbc.com
Toyosi Olusanya has joined Aberdeen on loan from Houston Dynamo after the Scottish Premiership club beat an approach from St Mirren to bring him back. The 28-year-old forward said he hopes to pick up where he left off in Scottish football and wants to score goals. Sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel said Olusanya adds a different, physical threat to Aberdeen’s attack.
Aberdeen beat St Mirren to Olusanya loan as forward targets goals
Aberdeen have signed Toyosi Olusanya on loan from Houston Dynamo, with the forward arriving despite an approach from his former club St Mirren. Olusanya said he hopes to “pick up where I left off” after returning to Scottish football, where he believes he made his name. The London-born attacker described Aberdeen as “a huge club” and said he wants “to score goals.”
Houston bought the 28-year-old from the Paisley club in April, but he made only six substitute appearances for the Major League Soccer side. Olusanya then joined Doncaster Rovers on loan for the first half of the League One season, making 11 appearances, eight as a substitute. He has not scored since netting for St Mirren in a 2-0 win over Rangers at Ibrox in February.
Olusanya arrives as a replacement for Jesper Karlsson after Bologna recalled the winger from his loan at Pittodrie pending a permanent transfer to Utrecht. Aberdeen have yet to replace sacked manager Jimmy Thelin, but sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel said the club are making positive progress with three January signings. Pfannenstiel said the window requires changes to squad dynamics and that Olusanya’s arrival boosts the team’s attacking options.
Pfannenstiel said Olusanya offers “a different threat” to what Aberdeen currently have, describing him as physical and bringing an aggression the club needs. St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson said he tried to bring the striker back to his injury-hit squad, but the club could not make it happen. Robinson said St Mirren did not have the funds and wished Olusanya well, calling him “a super boy” and adding, “it wasn’t for the want of trying.”
Olusanya scored 19 goals in 85 appearances for St Mirren and now returns to the Premiership after his brief spell in the United States and loan in England. He began his career with Wimbledon and also had spells with Kingstonian, Walton Casuals, Fleet Town, Gosport Borough, Cheshunt, Billericay Town, Middlesbrough and Arbroath. Olusanya said he believes he is ready to face Livingston on Saturday.
