Just under 150 players arrived at Scottish Premiership clubs over the course of 2020/21.
Whilst Celtic and Rangers as always splashed out their multi-millions, there were plenty of bargains to be found and plenty of players who would have a significant impact on their team’s performances over the course of the campaign.
Join Brig Sport as we go over who we think was every Premiership club’s signing of the season!
Aberdeen – Tommie Hoban
Defender Tommie Hoban looks like he’s finally starting to get the better of the injury problems that had initially plagued the start of his Aberdeen career.
Arriving on loan from Watford in 2018, the Irishman suffered setback after setback, before an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the following February meant his time at Pittodrie was cut short. However upon his release from his parent-club at the end of that season Hoban returned north to work on his rehabilitation, in July 2020 signing a short-term deal with an end to the nightmare finally in sight.
Since returning to full-fitness Hoban went on to become a stalwart in the Aberdeen team, when only Andy Considine made more than appearances over the course of the campaign it became clear that the Dons’ decision to stand by Hoban’s recovery had paid off. The defender actually hasn’t missed a league game since the opening day of the season against Rangers, which is even more impressive given he had only just returned from the long-term injury.
Even with the transitions of formations and managers, Tommie Hoban’s place in the Aberdeen team has never been in doubt, showing just how crucial a part of the Aberdeen set-up the defender has become.
Celtic – David Turnbull
Definitely the easiest choice we’ll make…
Despite initially being left out of Neil Lennon’s plans, David Turnbull went on to become perhaps the only success story to arrive in the east end of Glasgow this season.
Whilst admittedly the other signings left us with little choice, Turnbull’s debut campaign in green and white will give Celtic fans real promise that their new manager will have a player to build around going forward. The 21-year-old is one of a select group in Scottish football who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and drag his team towards three points. Whether it be with a defence-splitting pass, a dead ball delivery, or a shot form the edge of the area, Turnbull has the ability to win his side games out of absolutely nowhere.
Calls for a Scotland call-up are sounding louder and louder by the day, and with the recent awarding of the PFA Young Player of the Year, it could be argued a place in Steve Clarke’s Euro squad would be more than deserved.
Dundee United – Ryan Edwards
6’5″ defender Ryan Edwards is our pick for Dundee United’s signing of the season.
Brought in from Blackpool on a free transfer, Edwards helped to sure up a defence that kept 13 clean sheets in the league this season, only being beaten by the top four clubs in the division.
The defender’s 7.8 clearances per game is the highest in the entire league, and by quite some distance at that, but it’s the aerial ability Edwards brings to the team we feel makes him the standout of United’s centre-halves. In both a defending and an attacking point of view Edwards dominates opposing players in the air, and his team’s set-pieces massively benefit from his presence.
With Edwards’ contract expiring in the near future, you have to imagine the Tannadice board will be entering discussions over a new deal with a fair amount of urgency.
Hamilton Accies – Hakeem Odoffin
Despite Brian Rice’s side ending the season bottom of the table, a couple of their transfers this season actually turned out to be handy additions to the side. Although whilst Ross Callachan and Bruce Anderson deserve mentions, Hakeem Odoffin is undoubtedly Accies’ signings of the season.
Coming in from Livingston in the summer, Odoffin had mostly been utilised as a full-back during his time at the Tony Mac, however the switch to South Lanarkshire gave the 23-year-old a chance to prove he can play at a whole other level in defensive-midfield.
Hamilton inherited an absolute machine in the middle of the park who went about his business statistically more effectively than any other DM in the league. With 330, Odoffin recorded the second most defensive duels of any Premiership player. With 32, the most blocked shots, and with a humongous 313, by far the most interceptions any player in the division could get anywhere near.
Of course the point has to be made that his side’s average ball possession of 40% is the lowest of any team. So as a result their defensive players will have more opportunities to win the ball back than others, however the stats behind Hakeem Odoffin’s season more than merit his choice as our Hamilton signing of the season.
Featured Image Credit – Sportskeeda
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