The former Liverpool starlet has started just once under Jimmy Thelin this season and could opt for a change of scene in January
12:49, 14 Nov 2025
View Image
Aberdeen's Leighton Clarkson walks on the pitch after AEK score the fifth goal against his team during the Conference League opening phase soccer match between AEK Athens and Aberdeen in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Leighton Clarkson could leave Aberdeen in January – after rejecting a switch to Poland during the summer.
The former Liverpool starlet has played 90 minutes just once for the struggling Dons this season and found himself in and out of the side under Jimmy Thelin last season.
Now the Press and Journal reports that both parties could be open to a parting of the ways when the January transfer window opens.
Those within Pittodrie feel that Clarkson's value has reached its highest point and selling now will be their last chance to properly cash in, having not expected the midfielder to remain with the club as long as he has.
The 24-year-old has 18 months left on his current deal after joining from Liverpool, initially on loan in 2022 before penning a four-year contract with the Dons in summer 2023.
It has also been revealed that Clarkson rejected a move top Poland during the summer window.
The player has recently changed his agent and is said to have sought assurances from new Aberdeen football chief Lutz Pfannenstiel over future playing time.
More talks are expected to take place and Clarkson has not ruled out staying beyond January.
However, he does not plan on sitting on the subs bench for the remainder of the campaign and will assess his options should he look set to remain on the fringes of Thelin's starting XI.
Article continues below
Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks