Aberdeen’s Alfie Stewart considers next career step after Caley Thistle’s League One title triumph

Alfie Stewart hopes being a League One champion with Inverness can be just the start of a top career with his time as an Aberdeen player coming to an end.

For the second season running, the attacker has been on loan at Caley Thistle from Aberdeen, having also enjoyed a loan stint in 2024 with Peterhead.

His contribution of seven goals helped the Highlanders secure the League One title at the weekend thanks to a 2-1 victory over Hamilton Academical. 

ICT assistant manager Billy Mckay confirmed the club, now back in the Championship, is keen to land Stewart on a permanent deal, along with fellow Dons player Alfie Bavidge, who scored 20 goals for Inverness on loan this term.

Stewart’s key talks aim to help him reach ‘next level of my career’

Aberdeen academy graduate Stewart learned the news earlier this year that the Dons would not be renewing his (or Bavidge’s) contracts.

Clubs have been tracking 19-year-old, who was shortlisted for the PFA Scotland player of the year award in League One.

When asked about what lies in store following the weekend’s title triumph, Stewart said: “I don’t have a clue. There is lots of stuff going about and talks, but I’ve been focused on here (Inverness) first and foremost.

“It has been a really good season and I have no clue what is out there for me.

“I need to sit down with my agent, family and put myself first to see what suits me best to get to the next level of my career.

“This is my top moment so far. I won an under-18s league, but compared to this it is night and day.

“To do it with such a special group as well makes it even better. The boys who were here last season, to come back and do what we have done here and it feels amazing.”

‘Extra special’ togetherness at ICTFC

Last season, Inverness were in and out of administration, and battling through a 15-point deduction and change of manager from October 2024 when Scott Kellacher replaced Duncan Ferguson. 

The team climbed to seventh spot and began this season on -5 points as the second part of the punishment from going into administration.

Taken all the way by Stenhousemuir, Inverness won the title by two points thanks to their weekend win against second-bottom Accies, who were docked a total of 21 points this term due to several SPFL breaches.

In the end, Inverness were unbeaten in the second half of the season, with nine wins and nine draws.

Stewart said even in their final game when a Ross Munro penalty save from Oli Shaw ensured a 2-1 victory, it showed a determination to get the job completed, even though one point would have sealed the title.

He said: “It has been a really good season, the togetherness we have had in the squad to get us through is extra special.

“Even when we have days off, we are always together. We went bowling last week and me and Paul (Allan) went golfing. We wanted to do it for each other as well as ourselves.

Players delivered when it mattered

“Being months unbeaten helped us. We only needed a point on Saturday, but we ended up getting three thanks to Ross Munro, who has been magnificent this season.

“At the start of the season, we were only winning by one goal and it was edgy.

“We got the first goal (through Danny Devine) and Billy (Mckay) does what he does best and gets another goal for us. Hamilton then scored a goal from a good strike.

“We continued to play our game, but it got scrappy and they get a penalty. But Ross does what he does best and pulls it out again.”

[Source: Press and Journal]