Lewis Mayo has offered a glimpse behind the scenes of his transfer from Kilmarnock to Aberdeen, revealing the unexpected moment he and former team‑mate Brad Lyons realised they would be leaving Rugby Park together.
Surprise on the fairway
The centre‑half said the news broke while the pair were playing golf at Barassie at the end of the season, after a campaign in which Kilmarnock had been fighting to retain their Premiership status. According to Mayo, the two were on the first fairway when the realisation dawned.
"Then we were up the fairway in the first hole, and we both looked at each other and went, Aberdeen? Yes, see you Monday. It was a funny moment."
Mayo confirmed that both players underwent medicals on the Monday after their conversation and that the Aberdeen move followed a period of interest that had been building for some time. He said Aberdeen’s pursuit of him had been ongoing even before Stephen Robinson took charge at Pittodrie, and that Kilmarnock had rejected several bids from the Dons in January while Mayo remained under contract.
Settling in with familiar faces
The defender, who joined Aberdeen on a free transfer after his contract with Kilmarnock expired, emphasised the practical advantages of linking up with a close colleague at a new club. He described the pair as having been close at Rugby Park and said Lyons’ presence at Cormack Park had eased the transition into the new dressing room.
- Both players had been at Kilmarnock and were photographed in action for Aberdeen against Cove Rangers.
- Mayo confirmed previous bids from Aberdeen had been turned down by Kilmarnock while he was contracted.
- He praised Lyons for his experience and dressing‑room contribution since the move.
While Mayo stopped short of revealing the precise mechanics of negotiations, he said it was down to the clubs to do business while he remained under contract — a reminder of how transfer activity can be constrained by contractual terms even when player and prospective club are in agreement.
Local implications for Kilmarnock
For supporters in Kilmarnock, the departure of a home‑grown defensive presence is likely to be felt on and off the pitch. Mayo had been linked with the Dons previously and his exit on a free transfer follows a familiar pattern in modern Scottish football where contracts, timing and managerial change influence player movement.
Rugby Park now faces the task of replacing a centre‑half who had become an established member of the squad. The loss of two players to the same SPL rival in quick succession may prompt questions among fans and board members about recruitment and contract strategy as the club looks ahead to the new season.
| Detail | From source |
|---|---|
| Players moving to Aberdeen | Lewis Mayo and Brad Lyons |
| How Mayo left Kilmarnock | Free transfer after contract expiry |
| When they discovered the move | On a golf day at Barassie; medicals together the following Monday |
| Prior transfer activity | Kilmarnock turned down several bids from Aberdeen in January |
For Kilmarnock supporters who follow the club’s transfer policy closely, the sequence may renew focus on how the club retains players approaching contract ends and how it negotiates with rivals. For Mayo personally, the move represents a fresh chapter at Aberdeen under a new managerial regime, while the presence of a familiar team‑mate appears to have smoothed the early stages of that change.
Those following the Premiership will watch how both players adapt at Pittodrie and whether their combined arrival pays immediate dividends for Aberdeen, while back in Kilmarnock the club’s recruitment plans will be scrutinised as it seeks to plug the gap left at centre‑half.
