Celtic defender Liam Scales moves to Aberdeen on loan

Liam Scales has completed a loan move from Celtic to Aberdeen and will spend the next season at Pittodrie.

The versatile defender has agreed to join Jim Goodwin’s side for the upcoming campaign and will hope for regular football after only having limited first team opportunities as Celtic won the Premiership title last season.

Scales can play as a left full-back or in the heart of the defence and Aberdeen boss Goodwin said he intended to use him primarily as a centre-back.

“He is coming in as a left sided centre half, which is the position I saw him play regularly for Shamrock Rovers, and the one we believe is his best position.

“He is aggressive, mobile, very comfortable on the ball and he has all the qualities you would want in a modern-day centre back.”

Former St Mirren boss Goodwin revealed that he had been trying to sign the Irishman since before his move to Celtic.

“Liam is a player that I have been trying to get for the last couple of years,” Goodwin told the club website.

“I watched him very closely during his time at Shamrock Rovers, unfortunately I couldn’t get a deal done.

“Liam is 23-years-old and has already amassed nearly 200 appearances in senior football. He’s a strong character with a winning mentality, who will no doubt be a great addition to the squad.”

The club has also announced that it has agreed a pre-contract deal with defender Anthony Stewart.

The 29-year old will sign a two-year contract when he leaves Wycombe this summer.

The signings come days after Aberdeen sold Calvin Ramsay to Liverpool for an initial £4.5m fee, and less than 24 hours after right-back Jayden Richardson was recruited from Nottingham Forest.