Calvin Ramsay has returned to Scottish football with a season-long loan move to St Mirren, aiming to rebuild his career after a difficult period following his 2022 transfer to Liverpool. The 23-year-old right-back, who won the Scottish Football Writers' Young Player of the Year award that same year, left Aberdeen for an initial £4.2 million fee and a five-year contract at Anfield. His return comes as Scotland's national team sits third in their World Cup qualifying group with three points from three games, having lost their last match 3-0 to Brazil in June. The team's next fixture is an away qualifier against Slovenia on September 26.
What happened to Calvin Ramsay at Liverpool?
Calvin Ramsay's time at Liverpool did not go as planned. He made just four competitive appearances for the club after his high-profile move. His debut came in a Champions League match against Napoli during the 2022-23 season. After that, he was sent out on a series of loan spells to gain experience. He played for Preston North End, Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, and Kilmarnock. His contract with Liverpool is set to expire at the end of this current season. Ramsay told The Scotsman he aims to "rebuild himself back in Scotland." He also earned a senior Scotland cap in a friendly against Turkey.
Who are Scotland's other recent Young Players of the Year?
Ramsay is part of a notable group of Scottish talent recognized with the Young Player of the Year award. Ryan Christie won it in 2015 while at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, a season where he helped his club win the Scottish Cup. He moved to Celtic, won back-to-back trebles, and later transferred to Bournemouth, helping them win promotion to the Premier League. Christie has become a mainstay for the national side, earning 71 caps and featuring in three major tournaments, including a recent World Cup. Kieran Tierney dominated the award, winning it three years in a row from 2016 to 2018 while at Celtic. He moved to Arsenal for a club-record £25 million, won the FA Cup and Community Shield, and after a loan at Real Sociedad, returned to Celtic last summer and helped them win a domestic double.
How does this affect Scotland's national team prospects?
The development of past award winners is directly relevant to Scotland's current international standing. Players like Christie and Tierney have been core components of the squad that qualified for recent major tournaments. The national team's form has been mixed, with a recent run of three consecutive losses following two wins. They have scored just one goal while conceding four in their three World Cup qualifiers so far, leaving them four points behind group leaders Brazil. Manager Steve Clarke will be hoping Ramsay can find consistent form at St Mirren to bolster the defensive options available in the squad. The full schedule of upcoming qualifiers is available on our fixtures page.
What is next for Calvin Ramsay and Scotland?
For Calvin Ramsay, the immediate focus is on securing regular first-team football at St Mirren to demonstrate he can still fulfill the potential he showed at Aberdeen. A strong season could reopen doors at a higher level or earn him a new contract elsewhere. For the Scotland national team, the path is clear. They must improve their results quickly in World Cup qualifying. The 0-3 loss to Brazil highlighted the gap they need to close. Every point is vital, and the team will look to players with big-game experience, like Christie and Tierney, to lead the way. Fans can track the team's progress in the standings as the campaign continues towards the 2026 finals.
