# Chris Cadden
**Chris Cadden** (Christopher Cadden, born 1996) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defender, principally at right-back, for Aberdeen in the [Scottish Premiership](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-premiership). Born in Bellshill, he came through the Motherwell Academy, won the 2020 [MLS Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/mls-cup) with [Columbus Crew](https://www.edgepedia.org/columbus-crew), and spent five seasons at Hibernian before joining Aberdeen on a two-year deal in July 2026.[1](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden) He has been capped twice by Scotland.[1](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | Christopher Cadden, 1996, Bellshill, Scotland[1](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden) |
| Position | Defender; right-back and right wing-back who has also played in midfield[1](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden) • [2](https://aberlytics.substack.com/p/scouting-report-chris-cadden) |
| Current club | Aberdeen, joined July 2026 on a two-year deal, shirt number 28[1](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden) |
| Senior clubs | Motherwell, Albion Rovers (loan), Columbus Crew, Oxford United (loan), Hibernian, Aberdeen[1](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden) |
| Major honor | 2020 MLS Cup with Columbus Crew, a 3-0 final win over Seattle Sounders[1](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden) |
| International | 2 full Scotland caps; 11 caps and 1 goal for Scotland Under-21s[1](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden) • [3](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/christopher-cadden-44921) |
| Physical | 183 cm tall, right-footed[4](https://www.fifacm.com/26/player/222109) |
## Motherwell
Cadden began his career with his hometown club Motherwell, joining the academy in 2006. Manager Stephen Robinson handed him his first-team debut in a 4-1 victory over Hearts in 2014, and he went on to make almost 150 appearances for the Fir Park side.[1](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden) During this period he played as a wing-back, flying up and down the flank, though Scotland's Under-21 coach used him in central midfield.[5](https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/en/news/momentum-with-cadden-as-u21s-prepare-for-double-header)
He gained senior experience on loan in the second half of the 2014/15 season at Albion Rovers of League Two, where he made 10 appearances and scored 2 goals while helping the club win the League Two title and win promotion to League One.[6](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/chris-cadden/) At Motherwell he was part of the side that finished second in the [Premiership](https://www.edgepedia.org/premiership) and reached the finals of both the League Cup and the [Scottish Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-cup) in 2017/18.[6](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/chris-cadden/)
## Columbus Crew and Oxford United
Cadden joined the MLS side Columbus Crew for the 2020 season, described by the club as a versatile player who could operate on the right flank or in central midfield.[6](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/chris-cadden/) In July 2019 he moved on a season-long loan to [EFL League One](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-league-one) club Oxford United, where he made 21 league appearances.[7](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49092124) • [8](https://theanalyst.com/players/15280/chris-cadden/career) Columbus recalled him from the loan, and back in Ohio he made eight appearances and three starts in the Crew's MLS Cup-winning campaign of 2020, contributing one assist in 353 minutes as the team beat Seattle Sounders 3-0 in the final.[6](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/chris-cadden/)
## Hibernian
After the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cadden returned to Scotland, transferring from Columbus Crew to Hibernian on 15 January 2021.[6](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/chris-cadden/) Hibernian head coach Jack Ross said the chance to revive his Scotland career helped convince Cadden to choose Easter Road.[9](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55683925) He spent five seasons at the club, making more than 165 appearances in all competitions.[1](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden) In league play he totalled 138 appearances for Hibernian, scoring 5 goals and providing 8 assists.[10](https://theanalyst.com/players/15280/chris-cadden) His busiest campaign was 2022/23, with 37 league appearances.[3](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/christopher-cadden-44921)
## Aberdeen
Cadden joined Aberdeen from Hibernian on a two-year deal in July 2026, becoming the club's twelfth signing of that summer's transfer window.[1](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden) The move reunited him with Stephen Robinson, the manager who had given him his Motherwell debut; a scouting report published around the time of the transfer described him as a physical, attacking wing-back, strong and willing to overlap the winger to deliver crosses, though average defensively.[2](https://aberlytics.substack.com/p/scouting-report-chris-cadden) His Aberdeen contract runs to 31 May 2028.[11](https://www.soccerway.com/player/cadden-chris/ChrWaK7r/)
## International career
Cadden made his full Scotland debut in May 2018 and won a second cap during a South American double-header against Peru and Mexico.[1](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden) At Under-21 level he earned 11 caps and scored once, including in a 2017 qualifying campaign in which Scotland beat the Netherlands.[3](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/christopher-cadden-44921) • [5](https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/en/news/momentum-with-cadden-as-u21s-prepare-for-double-header)
## Playing style
Scouting assessments describe Cadden as an energetic, attacking right-sided player who gets down the line to cross, rather than a possession-based or defensively specialist full-back, and one who can cover every position down the right flank as well as a direct winger.[2](https://aberlytics.substack.com/p/scouting-report-chris-cadden) Across 14 recorded senior seasons he has totalled 305 club appearances with 13 goals and 12 assists for six clubs.[3](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/christopher-cadden-44921)
## References
1. [Chris Cadden, Men's Team, Aberdeen FC](https://www.afc.co.uk/en/teams/mens/chris-cadden)
2. [Scouting Report - Chris Cadden, Aberlytics (Caylum Matson), 23 July 2026](https://aberlytics.substack.com/p/scouting-report-chris-cadden)
3. [Christopher Cadden, Stats, Rating & Scouting Report, Field Insider](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/christopher-cadden-44921)
4. [Chris Cadden, EA FC 26 Ratings, FUTBIN/fifacm](https://www.fifacm.com/26/player/222109)
5. [Momentum with Cadden as U21s prepare for double header, Scottish FA, 8 November 2017](https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/en/news/momentum-with-cadden-as-u21s-prepare-for-double-header)
6. [Chris Cadden, MLSsoccer.com](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/chris-cadden/)
7. [Chris Cadden: Oxford United sign defender on season-long loan, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49092124)
8. [Chris Cadden Career History, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/15280/chris-cadden/career)
9. [Chris Cadden: Former Motherwell midfielder signs for Hibs, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55683925)
10. [chris cadden | opta analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/15280/chris-cadden)
11. [Chris Cadden Stats, Soccerway](https://www.soccerway.com/player/cadden-chris/ChrWaK7r/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of the British Isles (modern era) › Scottish footballers › Surnames A to J*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license