| Aidan Denholm | |
| Birth Date: | 2003 11, df=y |
| Birth Place: | West Lothian, Scotland |
| Currentclub: | Ross County (on loan from Heart of Midlothian) |
| Clubnumber: | 22 |
| Position: | Central midfielder |
| Youthyears1: | 2012–2021 |
| Youthclubs1: | Heart of Midlothian |
| Years1: | 2021– |
| Clubs1: | Heart of Midlothian |
| Caps1: | 17 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2021–2022 |
| Clubs2: | → Berwick Rangers (loan) |
| Caps2: | 24 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2023 |
| Clubs3: | → East Fife (loan) |
| Caps3: | 13 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2024– |
| Clubs4: | → Ross County (loan) |
| Caps4: | 2 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam1: | Scotland U21 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 11 August 2024 (UTC) |
| Ntupdate: | 8 April 2024 (UTC) |
| Full Name: | Aidan Denholm |
Aidan Denholm (born 9 November 2003) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for club Ross County, on loan from club Heart of Midlothian.
Born in West Lothian, Denholm joined Heart of Midlothian age eight.[1] Coming on as a 77th minute sub, Denholm made his professional debut in a 3–0 victory over Cove Rangers in the League Cup.[2]
Denholm moved on loan to Berwick Rangers in 2021–22 on an initial six-month loan.[3] Denholm scored his first goal for Berwick in a Scottish Cup 2–1 loss against Stirling Albion.[4] His loan was extended in December 2021, seeing him stay with Berwick until the end of the season.[5] Denholm would make 24 appearances in all competitions for Berwick,[6] as they finished eighth in the Lowland League.[7]
Following a successful first half of the season with Hearts B, Denholm would join League Two side, East Fife for the remainder of the season.[8] Denholm would make his debut a day later in a 1–1 draw to Stirling Albion.[9] Becoming a regular feature during the second half of the season, Denholm would play 15 times for East Fife in the league, who finished inside the play-offs. They would lose in the semi-finals to Clyde.[10]
Denholm was one of five youngsters who were released at the end of his contract after the 2022–23 season.[11] 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,[12] before going on trial to English League One side, Wigan Athletic.[13] 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.[14]
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.[15] 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.[16]
On 26 July 2024, Denholm joined fellow Scottish Premiership club Ross County on loan for the 2024–25 season.[17] [18]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Heart of Midlothian | 2021–22 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Scottish Premiership | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
| Total | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |||
| Berwick Rangers (loan) | 2021–22 | Lowland League | — | — | — | — | 24 | 1 | |||||
| East Fife (loan) | 2022–23 | League Two | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| Ross County (loan) | 2024–25 | Scottish Premiership | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 66 | 1 | |||