HE failed to score a single goal in 11 matches during an unsuccessful loan spell at Aberdeen.
But now, this Scottish striker is set for a crack at the Bundesliga.
Still only 23, Fraser Hornby still has plenty of time to make it big and he’s been afforded the chance to do it on one of the biggest stages.
He’s penned a four-year deal with SV Darmstadt who have just been promoted back to the Bundesliga.
Despite his young age, Hornby is well-travelled and this is already his SIXTH senior club.
Breaking through as a kid at Everton, Hornby moved on loan to Belgian outfit Kortrijk for the 2019/20 season for his first major taste of first team action.
Scoring four times, he caught the eye of French Ligue 1 side Reims who snapped him up in 2020 on a permanent deal.
His impressive goal record at international level will no doubt have made an impression too.
Hornby was prolific for the Scotland under-21s, netting ten goals in 18 games.
It means he is, in fact, Scotland’s record goal scorer at U21 level.
However, he couldn’t find his scoring touch in French football’s top tier and he was sent out on loan for the second half of his debut campaign.
That saw Hornby play club football in Scotland for the first time, moving to Aberdeen.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t find his shooting boots at Pittodrie either.
In what was a tough end to the campaign for the Dons under Stephen Glass, Hornby failed to score at all in 11 appearances.
It meant he ended the campaign across both clubs without scoring at all.
Returning to France in 2021/22, he played just eight times and went another campaign without scoring a goal.
However, last season was a different story and after returning to Belgium he once again found that elusive scoring touch.
Joining Oostende – a former club of Scotland star Jack Hendry – Hornby finally enjoyed a fruitful campaign.
Playing 21 times in Belgium’s top tier, Hornby scored eight times, his best return for a season yet.
And that’s been enough to earn him that big Bundesliga transfer.
Darmstadt will be hoping Hornby can help them retain their status in the top division, a league they’re playing in for the first time since 2017 after six campaigns in the second tier.
After his big move was confirmed, Hornby said: “It’s a great, family-run club and I’m sure I’ll find my feet here quickly.
“It’s great to play in the Bundesliga.
“I would like to do my part to achieve our goals and represent Darmstadt in this league.”
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