Aaron Donnelly was not needed at Dundee and was allowed to move to Dunfermline. Steven Pressley stated that Dunfermline had been actively pursuing Aaron Donnelly. Dundee told Dunfermline that they needed to utilise the player during the Premier Sports Cup and would allow him to leave immediately after. Pressley said it would have been incorrect not to allow Aaron Donnelly to leave and advance his career, despite Dundee having a shortage of defenders. Pressley stated the deal might not have proceeded if Dundee had not honoured this, which could have resulted in Aaron Donnelly remaining for the season. The manager said it was not an ideal or perfect decision, but one they believed was necessary for the player and for the club.

Aaron Donnelly has joined Dunfermline Athletic on a loan that will last for a season. He signed for Dundee in 2023 and has since made 40 competitive appearances for the club, including an appearance in the Premier Sports Cup earlier this month.

Aaron Donnelly will join Dunfermline from Dundee on a season-long loan. Donnelly's game time had been more limited under Dundee boss Steven Pressley. The player will strengthen the defensive options for Dunfermline manager Neil Lennon for the new campaign.

Dundee manager Steven Pressley is attempting to sign a central defender before the Premiership opener against Celtic, which would then permit 23-year-old Aaron Donnelly to complete a loan move to Dunfermline Athletic. Dunfermline Athletic want to take the Northern Irish international to East End Park for the season, and an agreement between the two clubs is already in place. The deal is contingent on Dundee signing another centre-back. Steven Pressley has confirmed that a defensive signing is the team's immediate priority, adding that he is looking to sign three or four new players overall. Donnelly, who has one cap for Northern Ireland, joined Dundee in January 2025 and his contract runs until the summer of 2028; his current Transfermarkt market value is €300k.