Gossip: Robins' Ballard offer rejectedpublished at 11:41 BST 20 July
11:41 BST 20 July
Bristol City have had multiple bids for striker Dom Ballard rejected by Leyton Orient. The latest offer to be turned down is reported to be worth an initial £4m. (Alan Nixon - Patreon), external
Hibs buy midfielder Abdulai from Orientpublished at 10:18 BST 4 July
10:18 BST 4 July
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Image caption,
Azeem Abdulai (left) spent 18 months with Leyton Orient
Hibernian have signed "athletic, aggressive, technically secure" former Scotland Under-21 midfielder Azeem Abdulai from Leyton Orient for an undisclosed fee.
The 23-year-old has been given a three-year contract by the Scottish Premiership club.
Born in Glasgow, Abdulai came through the Celtic, Leicester City and Swansea City youth ranks before making his first-team breakthrough with the Welsh club.
He was sold to Orient in January 2025 and has since made 65 appearances for the League One club, 41 of them last season, 22 of them starts, as they finished 20th of the 24 teams.
Hibs head coach David Gray told his club website: "Azeem is exactly the profile we wanted – he's athletic, aggressive, technically secure on the ball and will play box-to-box.
"He gives us more options in the midfield area and that creates a healthy competition for places."
Abdulai, who had a year left of his Orient contract, becomes Hibs' third addition this summer following the arrival of centre-half Jason Kerr from Wigan Athletic and midfielder Callum Wright from Plymouth Argyle.
'Leader' Happe signs two-year deal with Aberdeenpublished at 19:43 BST 5 June
19:43 BST 5 June
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Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson believes new signing Dan Happe will bring leadership and aerial dominance to the Dons' defence.
The 27-year-old centre-back has signed a two-year deal at Pittodrie - with the option for a third - and will join Aberdeen when his contract at Leyton Orient expires later this summer.
Happe has spent his entire senior career with Orient, making over 250 appearances and earning promotion twice.
"Dan is a leader who given his stature is clearly dominant in the air, something which we have missed," Robinson said.
"Given his experience we think he can have an immediate impact while also contributing to our longer-term vision for the club. He's exactly the right type of character and brings the attributes we're looking for."
Happe says he turned down multiple clubs in England to move to Aberdeen.
"Having spent my entire career at one club it was a big decision to move on, but I just felt it was the right time to try something new, and this was an opportunity I could not turn down," he said.
"After speaking to the manager, he was so positive and enthusiastic about the club and what he wants to achieve here. He was very persuasive. I had other options, interest from teams in England, but after the call with him I was in now doubt this was the move for me.
"I know last season was not what anyone at Aberdeen would have wanted, it was disappointing, but I am confident better times lie ahead with the squad the manager is building. I want to help the team get back into Europe and help the team win trophies."