Rangers have confirmed that midfielder Lyall Cameron has joined Scottish Premiership rivals Aberdeen on loan until the end of the season, bringing an end to his brief and frustrating spell at Ibrox.
The 23-year-old arrived in Govan last summer after agreeing a pre-contract with Rangers while still at Dundee, who visit Ibrox this Sunday, where he had made over 100 senior appearances after progressing through the club’s academy.
Cameron was regarded as a promising addition at the time, particularly after breaking into the Scotland Under-21 setup.
He made a handful of encouraging appearances early in the campaign under former manager Russell Martin and even scored in a UEFA Champions League qualifying match away to Viktoria Plzen. However, opportunities quickly dried up following the managerial change at Ibrox.
Since Danny Rohl’s appointment, Cameron has played just three minutes of football, coming on briefly in a 1–0 win over Motherwell in December.
He was also left out of both matchday squads as Rangers recorded back-to-back 2–0 league victories over Aberdeen at Ibrox and Pittodrie.
He trained with Rangers yesterday, but the interest from the Granite City materialized quickly and the move was agreed over the previous 24-hours.
With competition in midfield increasing with new signing Tochi Chukwueni and Rangers squad already bloated, a temporary move was seen as the best solution for both player and club.
Aberdeen confirmed Cameron’s arrival on Friday, with Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel revealing the midfielder had been determined to secure a switch to Pittodrie.
“Lyall was clear in his desire to join Aberdeen,” Pfannenstiel said.
“He had interest from other clubs both in England and abroad, but he made it clear to Rangers he wanted this move to Pittodrie to happen.
“That commitment was hugely attractive to us.”
Pfannenstiel believes Cameron can make an immediate impact during the second half of the season.
“We believe he will have a positive influence on the team in the next few months and help us achieve our objectives between now and May,” he added.
The Aberdeen chief also confirmed that further squad changes are expected as the Dons look to trim their numbers.
“Our intention is to bring that number down during this window, while also looking to add quality in key areas of the pitch,” Pfannenstiel said.
“I am expecting a busy couple of weeks.”
Cameron, who goes straight into the squad for Aberdeen’s Scottish Cup tie against Raith Rovers this Sunday, is eager to prove himself and reignite his career.
Speaking to Reds TV, he outlined what he hopes to bring to the Pittodrie side. “I think I could bring energy, passion, obviously I work very hard,” Cameron said.
“Hopefully I can bring some quality and some goals and just get them up to their seats really.
“I like being positive, getting forward with the ball, making late runs in the box and trying to score some goals.”
The midfielder made it clear his focus is firmly on helping Aberdeen push on in the league and cup.
“I just want to help Aberdeen as much as possible until the end of the season,” he added.
For Rangers, the move helps ease squad congestion as Rohl continues reshaping the group he inherited.
Cameron’s lack of game time since the managerial change suggested his chances of breaking into the starting XI were slim, particularly with Rangers strengthening during the January window.
The loan also gives Cameron the opportunity to rediscover the form that once made him one of the most highly rated young midfielders in Scotland.
Whether his future lies back at Ibrox or elsewhere, the next few months at Pittodrie could prove crucial for both his confidence and his career trajectory.