Dundee

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Dunfermline Athletic have signed Dundee centre-half Aaron Donnelly on a season-long loan.

The 23-year-old, who has one cap for Northern Ireland, started two of the Dens Park side's Premier Sports Cup group games and came off the bench in another.

But now he will look to help Neil Lennon's side repeat his feat with Dundee in 2023-24, when he helped the Dark Blues win promotion to the Scottish Premiership.

Donnelly turned professional with Nottingham Forest in 2019 and made his only senior appearance three years later.

However, he found regular first-team football on loan to Port Vale, Dundee and Colchester United before he returned to Dens Park permanently in January 2025.

However, he made only three appearances last season and has made just 20 appearances for Dundee overall since his return.

Dunfermline point out that, although rimarily a left-sided centre-back, he can also ply left-back and right-back.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

To say last season was a rollercoaster for Dundee is an understatement. The number of ups and downs would put fairground rides to shame.

However, it was ultimately a relatively successful campaign as Steven Pressley's rebuilt squad finished a creditable eighth, delivering a good brand of football along the way.

The challenge this time round is to build on, and better, what they achieved last term.

Once again he is having to preside over a significant squad turnaround with a host of key players, like Luke Graham, Tony Yogane, Cameron Congreve and Jon McCracken having departed.

But having proved he has an eye for a player over the past 12 months, the Dark Blues faithful will be hoping Pressley can show that quality again by assembling a group capable of challenging for a top-six place.

One thing that is very different for the head coach this time round is he has the fans on his side, something that wasn't the case following his surprise appointment last summer.

Whether that continues will of course be determined by results. Dundee certainly appear to have discovered their scoring touch early on having rattled in 14 goals in their four League Cup group games - more than any other team.

And they will be hoping that is a sign of things to come. They will need to be clinical in front of goal, and tight at the back, when they open their league campaign with the toughest of tests - away to champions Celtic on Monday night.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Where will you finish in the league and why?

It's a tough one to call at the moment as we're yet to complete our transfer business. So at the time of writing I'm going to say seventh. I think we built solid foundations last season, which will propel us to improve on last season's eighth-placed finish.

Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

I don't think our best signing of the summer has arrived yet, I think it should be a midfielder who looks capable of pulling strings and subsequently allowing other midfielders to play in a more advanced role. That would be the missing piece in this team. Ben Stanway from Partick Thistle comes to mind.

What do you want from your manager this season?

A trophy will always be my first answer but we'd be delighted with a good cup run. We've not been in a major semi-final since 2006, we've been in a good habit of breaking records under Steven Pressley and this one is probably the most desirable.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

Charlie Reilly and Joe Bevan look very sharp and I'm struggling to separate them in terms of who will have the spotlight more, so I'll make them a package deal since they flourished as a pairing previously at Albion Rovers. They've got big boots to fill with the departures of Cameron Congreve and Tony Yogane but Pressley fancies them to step up to the task and for very good reason.

What is your one major concern?

The main concern is how light the squad looks at the moment, one or two injuries could seriously throw us out of balance ahead of the league campaign kicking off. The new signings look encouraging thus far but we still require more reinforcements.

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Steven Pressley said his Dundee team looked "a little bit tired" and "a little bit laboured" despite scoring four times to beat lower-league Clyde.

The Premiership club were goalless at half-time at Dens Park but managed to break the visitors down after the interval to progress from the League Cup groups.

Despite league action not starting until next weekend, Pressley referenced that Saturday's match was Dundee's 11th game of the campaign, including friendlies and the four League Cup group fixtures.

"I thought we looked a little bit tired, a little bit laboured in our performance," the head coach told BBC Scotland.

"This was our 11th game since returning back for pre-season and we've been quite reliant on a lot of the same players, although we've tried to rotate the group, we haven't got the biggest of groups.

"There were some tired legs out there. Our intention has always been to be off Sunday, Monday of this week, with the game being the following Monday.

"It's much needed. Not only the players, but I think some of the staff are really tired. It's been quite an intense period for us."

Dundee's next action is their first Premiership fixture of the season at the home of defending champions Celtic on Monday, 3 August (19:30 BST).

And Pressley has backed his players to be primed for the challenge that awaits them in a daunting league opener.

"All our games were very competitive against Celtic last year," he added. "I've already told the players the challenge in hand.

"Celtic haven't lost, I don't think, an opening day home game for 76 years, so that in itself tells you the challenge ahead.

"But we like a challenge. We need to do a lot better than we did today if we're going to get the result, but we'll work hard this week and hopefully we can go there and perform in the manner that I believe we can."

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Crystal Palace goalkeeper Owen Goodman has joined Dundee on a season-long loan on his return from the World Cup with Canada.

The London-born 22-year-old was called up to the senior squad for the first time in November and, after ending the domestic campaign on loan to Barnsley in League One, was one of the hosts' three goalkeepers at the summer tournament.

Jon McCracken, last season's first choice, left Dundee for Bradford City this summer and Goodman has been brought in to challenge Kieran O'Hara for the number one jersey.

Goodman told his club website: "It's a big league, the Scottish Premiership. There's some big games. When Dundee came in, it was just something I had to go for.

"I'm excited for a new challenge and the next step in my career and I'm happy to try something new."

Goodman, who is ineligible to face Clyde in Saturday's Premier Sports Cup game, came through the Palace youth ranks and joined Colchester United on loan in 2023.

He had another loan spell in League Two with Wimbledon, winning the division's golden glove and helping them win the play-off final and promotion.

Goodman started last season on loan to Huddersfield Town, making 12 appearances, before starting 22 games for Barnsley in the second half of the season.

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Dundee centre-half Charley Oosenbrugh has signed a new three-year contract after the 17-year-old was promoted to the Scottish Premiership club's first-team squad this summer.

The Dundee academy product made his senior debut against Kilmarnock in May, coming on as a second-half substitute.

This season, he has featured as a replacement in Premier Sports Cup victories over Airdrieonians and Annan Athletic.

Oosenbrugh told the club website: "Being at the club since I was a young boy, Dundee is all I know. I feel like I can now improve even more and build into the first team, that's my goal.

"The gaffer has given me the opportunity this pre-season and during the league cup games. He's been massive for me, he's always giving me little details I can work on and he's helped massively."

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Dundee boss Steven Pressley lamented his side's lack of control after a League Cup group draw with third-tier Ross County allowed the lower-league side to snatch a bonus point from the Premiership club.

Finlay Robertson's first-half opener was cancelled out by Brian Graham's second-half strike before County came out on top on spot-kicks.

It means Pressley's side's hopes of progression are in the balance as they currently sit second in Group D, one point behind leaders County.

"I thought we started the opening period reasonably well - the first 20 minutes we were quite fluent in our play," Pressley said.

"We had good control of the game and we got in behind them on quite a number of occasions, something that we really wanted to do.

"But after we scored, we seemed to lose control and we never really got it back.

"In the end, although the game finished tied, the reality was probably that Ross County, over the piece, were the better side."

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Dundee managing director John Nelms says the club have done everything in their power in their bid for a new 12,500-seat stadium at Camperdown Park.

The club say all necessary documentation is now with Dundee City Council after almost two years of talks between the various parties involved.

"After the initial submission for Planning Permission in Principle in February 2024, our consultants have worked through a significant engagement process with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the most robust submission," a club statement said.

"We now believe we have taken every step required of us and look forward our application being heard at the next available committee hearing date.

"We would like to thank our supporters for their patience during what has become a protracted planning application.

"We have never wavered from our belief that the Camperdown Stadium Project will transform Dundee FC's future ambitions on and off the pitch, and that it will be a crown jewel of the city's rejuvenation through its many social, leisure and economic benefits."

Nelms added: "Having done everything asked of us and more, and having respected the planning process, we now place our faith and the project's future in the hands of the city's elected representatives. We look forward to sharing our vision with them as soon as possible."

Manager Steven Pressley was "happy with the exercise" despite Dundee losing 4-0 at home to Everton in Saturday's friendly at Dens Park.

Pressley's Scottish Premiership side trailed 1-0 at the break and lost three more goals to the Premier League outfit in the second period.

"It was very important and we got some really good minutes into the likes of Zan Besir," Pressley told club media. "We got 60 minutes into him, Joe Westley 60 minutes. We got 45 minutes into [Alan] Forrest and of course additional minutes to a number of players.

"Also we welcome back Fin [Robertson] after a setback with an injury.

"So, it was good in that respect and I was really satisfied with a lot of things, especially in the first half where I suppose we had players that have been with us for a longer period that understand the principles more and I thought we were very aggressive.

"The second half, we worked really hard. We were just out of sync a little bit in certain things but that's normal with certain players playing out of position. We also had new players in the team.

"Overall, I was really, really happy with the exercise."

Dundee continue their Premier Sports Cup group campaign away to Ross County on Tuesday (19:45 BST) and finish at home to Clyde on Saturday (15:00). Pressley's side have maximum points from their first two group fixtures.

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Manager Steven Pressley likens Dundee's Charley Oosenbrugh, 17, to Luke Graham, who the Dens Park club recently sold. (Courier - subscription required, external)

Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Everton consigned Dundee to a heavy defeat in Saturday's friendly at Dens Park.

Beto struck to give the Premier League side the lead at the break.

Thierno Barry scored Everton's second after his block on goalkeeper Harrison Sharp's clearance looped into the net.

Harvey Foster and Dwight McNeil added late goals for the visitors.

Summer signings Zan Besir, Owen Bevan and Idris Odutayo started for Dundee and recent recruit Alan Forrest came on at half-time.

Can Dundee turn a season of survival into a season of ambition? After winning over sceptical supporters, what can Steven Pressley achieve in year two?

Host Charlotte Cohen sits down with George Cran and Robin Grimmond to debate the big talking points surrounding Dundee ahead of the new campaign.

Have Dundee recruited well enough to offset some major departures? Which players are poised to make the biggest impact, and could Ashley Hay become the goalscorer fans have been waiting for?

Most importantly, is a long-awaited top-six finish a realistic target or wishful thinking?

Listen: Pressley's project starts to take shape

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Alan Forrest regards Dundee as "a good fit" after signing up at Dens Park on a two-year deal, with the option of a further year.

The winger, 29, was a free agent after leaving Hearts. He made 142 appearances over four years at Tynecastle, scoring 14 times.

Manager Steven Pressley told Dundee's website: "We've been monitoring Alan's situation for a while and it's excellent to be able to bring him to Dundee.

"He has all the attributes we were looking for in his position, like his one-to-one ability, delivery of crosses and ball carrying and he is very hard working against the ball.

"Alan is someone who knows the Scottish game very well. He's performed well at this level for a number of years and we believe he still has a lot to give."

Before joining Hearts, Forrest turned out for Ayr United and Livingston, playing more than 200 times for the former.

And he said: "As soon as Dundee were interested, I thought it was a good fit for me.

"The way they played last year, they were a match for any team in the league so I'm looking forward to getting started.

"Whether it's helping off the ball or creating and scoring goals, I want to affect games as much as I can."

Dundee captain Simon Murray, 34, reveals he played much of last season carrying an injury. (Courier - subscription required, external)

Sunday's Scottish gossip

Torino sporting director Gianluca Petrachi says the Serie A club will hold talks with Che Adams when he returns from his holiday following his World Cup duty with Scotland to find out if the 29-year-old striker wants to remain at the club. (Scotsman - subscription required, external)

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson hopes to sign two wide players following the departure of Finland winger Topi Keskinen. (Press & Journal - subscription required, external)

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari says it is now decision time over Bozo Mikulic with the 29-year-old defender featuring in all their pre-season matches as a trialist after his contract ran out on his return from long-term injury. (Courier - subscription required, external)

Head coach Steven Pressley says Dundee are still in the market for another five or six players. (Daily Record), external

Saturday's Scottish football gossip

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Steven Pressley is "calm" about Dundee's transfer business as the Dens Park club get set to start their competitive season.

Pressley's side open their Premier Sports Cup group campaign at home to Airdrieonians on Saturday and have recruited Zan Besier, Owen Bevan, Ryan Finnigan and Idris Odutayo so far.

"There's a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we're very calm about the situation," said Pressley.

"We were in a very similar situation last season and we managed to bring in some really good players in the latter stages of the window.

"Sometimes you need to know where you are in the food chain, and as a result of that, show a little bit more patience. If you adopt that strategy, then often you can get the players that you really want."

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Owen Bevan is eager to "perform" after joining Dundee on a two-year contract, with the option of a further year.

The defender, 22, leaves Bournemouth, who had loaned him out to three different clubs, including Hibernian.

"There were lots of reasons to come here," Bevan told Dundee club media.

"I saw during my trial period that there are lots of good people here. The manager was a big driving factor for coming, I like the way he works, I like the football he wants to play and I think it suits me. I think it'll bring the best out of me.

"I want to perform here. I want to show people that I can step up a level at this club and I can't wait to get started."

Bevan has made 47 senior appearances.

And manager Steven Pressley said: "Owen is a player that we were made aware of and who joined us from day one of our pre-season. He very much impressed with his aggression, his defensive mindset but also his composure and ability with the football.

"In our opinion he's a player with a very high ceiling and our job is to create an environment and give him the platform to achieve that potential. We're delighted that he has signed."

Dundee manager Steven Pressley is looking to add six more players to his squad and is keen to take trialist defender Owen Bevan on loan from Bournemouth. (The Courier - subscription required, external)