Home
Wanderers have made another positive move into the January transfer market to secure a loan deal for Liverpool’s attack-minded right-back Calvin Ramsay, writes Pete Oliver.
Ramsay’s arrival brings top-flight pedigree from north and south of the border and a full Scotland international to the Toughsheet Community Stadium for the remainder of the campaign.
The former Aberdeen defender will give manager Ian Evatt a valuable further option on the right-hand side of Wanderers’ back line for the end-of-season run-in in League One and any remaining games in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
Ramsay becomes Wanderers’ second signing so far of the January transfer window following the arrival of Swansea City’s left-sided wing-back Nathanael Ogbeta, who marked his first appearance as a late substitute for the Whites with their final goal in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Carlisle United as Evatt’s men moved back up to second place in the table.
The 20-year-old also follows a familiar path from Anfield after the loan spells last season of Liverpool full-backs Owen Beck and Conor Bradley, with Bradley going on to become Wanderers’ Player-of-the-Year on the back of an outstanding campaign.
Aberdeen-born Ramsay previously came through the youth ranks with his hometown club, going on to make a debut in the Scottish Premiership in March, 2021.
He went on to make 20 top-flights starts the following season – as well as playing in the Europa Conference – to take his number of senior appearances for the Dons to 39.
Named the Scottish Football Writers' Association's Young Player of the Year at the end of the 2021/22 season, Ramsay had attracted attention of Premier League clubs and made a big-money move to Liverpool in June, 2022 in a deal reported to be a club record sale for Aberdeen.
His debut for Liverpool came via the bench in a Champions League win over Napoli in November, 2022 before a first start for Jurgen Klopp’s side in an EFL Cup tie later that month.
Having been capped at up to Under-21 level by Scotland, Ramsay then made a senior international debut in a friendly against Turkey before picking up an injury that prematurely ended his first season at Anfield.
Ramsay then spent the first half of the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Championship side Preston North End before being recalled by Liverpool after injury limited his game-time at Deepdale and now gets the chance to further his first-team experience and aid Wanderers’ promotion push after taking squad number 20 with the Whites.
"We’re really grateful to Liverpool for trusting us with one of their young assets,” said Evatt, who completed the deal for Ramsay in time for him to be eligible for Tuesday night’s Bristol Street Motors quarter-final at Blackpool.
“Calvin is a really good player in his own right and I'm sure he'll come here and show everybody associated with us what a good player he is going to be. He’s a very talented young player and we're really fortunate Liverpool chose us over a lot of other options for him.
“He had a mixed first six months of the season at Preston where he had an injury. He's got back from that and not had much game time, so it's down to us to make him enjoy his football and put a smile on his face.
“He hasn't played loads of football (recently) so we have to build him into it, but I think he's going to be additive to what we've got for the rest of the season, that's for sure.
“Josh (Dacres-Cogley) has done an incredible job and put so much into the season so far and now we feel we can rotate a little bit or, if he needs a break or sometimes he can play as a centre-back as well, then it's great to have Calvin to step up and do what he can do.”
Evatt also confirmed that the arrival of Ramsay may allow the Whites to find a loan opportunity for Luke Matheson between now and the end of the season if the right option of first-team football elsewhere presents itself for the 21-year-old ahead of the transfer deadline.
