French midfielder Adil Aouchiche will bolster the Dons attack this coming season

The 22-year-old, who operates primarily in the number 10 role, has joined on loan from EPL side Sunderland for the 2025-26 campaign, with Aberdeen having an option to purchase next summer.

Aouchiche has flown to Portugal to join his new teammates and take in the last couple of days of the pre-season training camp.

“We’re delighted to welcome Adil to Aberdeen”, said Dons boss Jimmy Thelin.

“He’s a technically gifted player who brings creativity and strong attacking instincts to our midfield.

“At just 22, Adil has already played at a high level in France and England. His experience, coupled with his desire to keep improving makes him a really exciting addition to the group and we believe this is a great environment for him to thrive.

“We look forward to working with him over the coming season and helping him make a real impact in a Dons shirt.”

Adil came through the youth ranks at Paris Saint-Germain and made his debut for Les Parisiens aged just 17-years-old, in a 2-0 win over Metz in August 2019.

Then, just five months later, he broke a club record for the youngest ever PSG goal scorer in the Coupe de France when he grabbed one of six in a rout of Linas-Montlhéry.

In June 2020, he left Paris to join fellow Ligue 1 side AS Saint-Étienne. He played 77 times in two seasons before joining Lorient in the summer of 2022. After exactly one season at the Stade du Moustoir, he moved across the channel to join Sunderland for an undisclosed fee.

He featured in 37 games for the Wearsiders before joining then fellow Championship side Portsmouth last January, where he was a teammate of Kusini Yengi.

During his career, Adil has also been a regular for the French youth international teams, up to and including the U20s. He had a particularly prolific spell for the U17s, when he broke a record by netting nine goals at the U17 Euros in 2019 and was subsequently named in the Team of the Tournament.

Hoping to continue that form in the North-east of Scotland, Adil is looking forward to the challenge of competing for Aberdeen both domestically and in Europe.

He said: “It’s a special feeling to sign for Aberdeen.

“The best move for me is to come here. Everyone knows it’s a huge club in Europe and Scotland.

“I had a really positive and important discussion with the manager, and he made me feel like I was wanted here. He wants me to enjoy the loan spell and bring my qualities and experience to the club.

“I will try to bring everything to my team-mates and club. I want to achieve things here and hopefully make some good memories.”

RedTV subscribers can watch an exclusive interview with Adil now.