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Aidan Denholm (born 9 November 2003) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian.

He has previously played on loan for clubs Berwick Rangers, East Fife, and Ross County while at Hearts.

Career

Heart of Midlothian

Born in West Lothian, Denholm joined Heart of Midlothian age eight. Coming on as a 77th minute sub, Denholm made his professional debut in a 3–0 victory over Cove Rangers in the League Cup.

2021–22: Berwick Rangers loan

Denholm moved on loan to Berwick Rangers in 2021–22 on an initial six-month loan. Denholm scored his first goal for Berwick in a Scottish Cup 2–1 loss against Stirling Albion. His loan was extended in December 2021, seeing him stay with Berwick until the end of the season. Denholm made 24 appearances in all competitions for Berwick, as they finished eighth in the Lowland League.

2022–23: East Fife loan

Following a successful first half of the season with Hearts B, Denholm joined League Two side, East Fife for the remainder of the season. Denholm made his debut a day later in a 1–1 draw to Stirling Albion. Becoming a regular feature during the second half of the season, Denholm played 15 times for East Fife in the league, who finished inside the play-offs. They lost in the semi-finals to Clyde.

2023–24: Release and return to Hearts

Denholm was one of five youngsters who were released at the end of his contract after the 2022–23 season. Denholm was told of his release by then Hearts manager, Robbie Neilson and began looking elsewhere. Denholm was ready to work in a bank, with his mum, before going on trial to English League One side, Wigan Athletic. Driving back from his trial, his old B-team manager and new Hearts Technical Director, Steven Naismith, called Denholm and offered him a second chance at Hearts.

On 10 August 2023, Denholm made his UEFA Europa Conference League debut in a 2–1 loss to Rosenborg BK, coming on as a 71st minute substitute for Cameron Devlin. Three days later, Denholm made his Scottish Premiership debut for Hearts in a 0–0 draw to Kilmarnock, also coming on as a substitute for Devlin.

2024–25: Ross County loan

On 26 July 2024, Denholm would join fellow Scottish Premiership club Ross County on loan for the 2024–25 season. On 4 January 2025, he was recalled by Hearts after suffering an injury in a Ross County game against Dundee.

Career statistics

As of 23 November 2024

References

1. Aidan Denholm at the Scottish Football Association
2. "Denholm in dreamland after going from Hearts scrapheap to Euro stage". BBC. 18 August 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
3. "Hearts 3-0 Cove Rangers". Soccerway. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
4. "Denholm joins the Dream Team". Berwick Rangers. 20 September 2021. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
5. "Berwick Rangers 1-2 Stirling Albion". Stirling Albion FC. 23 October 2021. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
6. "Gaffer 'delighted' as Denholm stay is extended". Berwick Rangers. 13 December 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
7. ^ Wales, Peter (25 May 2022). "Teenage midfielder back at Hearts after end of loan to Berwick Rangers". Edinburgh News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
8. "SLFL 2021/22". SLFL. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
9. "Aidan Denholm Signs On Loan". East Fife FC. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
10. "EAST FIFE VS. STIRLING ALBION 1 - 1". Soccerway. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
11. "Clyde 1 1 East Fife". BBC. 12 May 2023. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
12. "QUINTET TO LEAVE HEARTS". Hearts FC. 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
13. "Story of Aidan Denholm and Hearts: Being released, looking for bank jobs to starring in memorable European night". The Scotsman. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
14. Anderson, Barry (17 August 2023). "Exclusive: Aidan Denholm reveals the inside story on his Hearts exit, trial in England, call to return and European debut". Edinburgh News. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
15. "Hearts ace Aidan Denholm on job search and what Cammy Devlin told him". The Herald. 18 August 2023. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
16. "MATCH REPORT: ROSENBORG 2-1 HEARTS". Hearts FC. 10 August 2023. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
17. Petrie, Andrew (13 August 2023). "Heart of Midlothian 0 0 Kilmarnock". BBC. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
18. "Denholm joins Ross County on loan – Hearts". www.heartsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
19. "Aidan Denholm joins on loan from Hearts". RCFC. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
20. "Aidan Denholm has returned to Hearts from his loan spell at Ross County". Bluesky. 4 January 2025. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
21. "Games played by Aidan Denholm in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
22. ^ "Games played by Aidan Denholm in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
23. "Games played by Aidan Denholm in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2023.

External links

• Aidan Denholm at Soccerbase
• Aidan Denholm at Soccerway

• Berwick Rangers F.C. seasons
• East Fife F.C. players
• Heart of Midlothian F.C. players
• 2003 births
• Living people
• Sportspeople from West Lothian
• Footballers from West Lothian
• Scottish Professional Football League players
• Scottish men's footballers
• Men's association football midfielders
• Scotland men's under-21 international footballers
• 21st-century Scottish sportsmen