When Ewan Otoo arrived at Dunfermline on loan from Celtic on a cold February morning he could not have hoped for a better experience at the Fife club. He made his first team debut the following day in a season defining victory at Airdrie and went on to make a total of eleven appearances for the Pars culminating in picking up a league winners medal. Little surprise really that he had no hesitation to accepting a contract to return on a permanent basis. He told the website:-
“My goal for the loan was to be in a position where Dunfermline wanted me back for the next season, so from that point of view I think it’s been a success. Then, from the way it went personally, I made my mind up that I wanted to come back. All in all, I would say I’m happy that’s the way it’s went. I feel like I ended last season quite strongly and hopefully I can hit the ground running, start really strongly and continue that through to this season.
“I’m delighted to be here. The three-year deal shows the faith the gaffer and the club has in me. It shows that they’ve got a goal for me, they’ve got a vision for me. I’m really happy about that, it’s a real positive for me. So hopefully I can repay that with good performances on the pitch. It’s offered me an opportunity to develop and get even better and I want to help the team as much as I possibly can.”
Ewan had an option to stay at Celtic and he was aware of interest from elsewhere with a couple of clubs monitoring his situation but he said:-
“I did have an option but both parties came to the conclusion that the best thing was for us to part ways. I had my mind pretty much made up. I think this is the best place to continue my development. “
“I didn’t want last season to end, I enjoyed it that much! In my head I kind of knew this would be the best place for me to be playing football next season. I kind of had that made up.”
You could easily reach a conclusion that Ewan’s decision had been formed before end of his loan at Dunfermline.
The move brings Ewan Otoo and Kane Ritchie-Hosler bring together again. The pair seem destined to be united despite coming from clubs across the great Glasgow divide. They were on loan together at Clyde in the 2020-2021 season before their paths crossed again in Fife last season. The 20 year old added:-
“He was quite influential, to be fair. He was texting me, he was getting in my ear! I pretty much had my mind made up though, it wasn’t anything to do with Kane. I knew I wanted to come back here but it’s good to have a person like Kane here as well. It makes everything a bit more comfortable for me. Even though I was coming before.”
As you might have suspected while on the Celtic youth system Ewan played against some continental sides in tournaments abroad. He played against a lot of big named clubs including Real Madrid but he has never come across St Pauli before:-
“It’s always good to play against continental teams, it’s a different style of football. Being able to test yourself against different styles and different levels of football is really good. We went to Germany but we didn’t face St Pauli.
“I can’t wait for that game on Friday night. I’ve been buzzing for it. Hopefully we’ll get a good crowd supporting us and hopefully we can start our pre season on the right footing and take it all the way through to having a good season.”
Ewan has no personal goals for the season ahead but has adopted the ‘take it game by game’ principle:-
“I want to do as well as I can. I want to get in the team, stay in the team. I know there will be a lot of competition to stay in the team but I’m ready for it, I’m prepared for it and I believe in myself.
“It will be good opposition in the league, a lot of strong teams in the league, I’m really looking forward to it. I feel like I’m also ready to step up and show that I’m ready to play at that level as well. So I’m really looking forward to that competition week in week out.
“That’s what it’s about as a young player, you just want to establish yourself at different levels. You want to check off levels, complete levels. You want to show everyone that you’re good enough to be able to play at a certain level. So last season really helped that and hopefully this season I can do the same. Throughout my time at Dunfermline hopefully I can have a good connection with the fans and hopefully be successful.”
