Dundee United sign Fiorini and Paton on loan
Dundee United have added midfielder Lewis Fiorini and forward Ruari Paton on loan from Stockport County and Port Vale respectively hours ahead of facing Dundee in the Scottish Cup fourth round.
Manchester-born 22-year-old Fiorini shared an England Under-15's dressing room with future stars such as Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala but has most recently represented Scotland, for whom he is eligible through his grandmother, at under-21 level.
Irishman Paton returns to Scotland after signing a three-year deal with League Two club Vale from Queen's Park for an undisclosed fee last summer and has scored three goals in 24 appearances, 13 of them starts.
Fiorini has made 16 appearances - half of them from the bench - for Stockport since signing from Manchester City in July.
United manager Jim Goodwin told his club website: "Lewis arrives at Tannadice with a fabulous pedigree, having progressed through one of the finest academies in world football.
"He's balanced this grounding with a wealth of senior experience at such a young age, boasting in excess of 120 first-team games both in the UK and on the continent."
Goodwin described Fiorini, who had loan spells from City with Breda, Lincoln City and Blackpool, as having "an outstanding ability to handle the ball in difficult scenarios - and his first thought is always to play forwards".
Fiorini said he was looking forward to hitting the ground running and he and Paton were named on the bench for Monday's tie at Dens Park.
Paton started his career with Hibernian before moving to East Kilbride, Stranraer and, in summer 2023, to Queen's Park, netting 22 goals in 43 games for the Championship side.
"Ruari is a player who has been on our radar for a considerable period of time, having witnessed his talents first-hand throughout last season whilst he was lighting up the Championship," Goodwin said.
"Able to spin into the channels or hold the ball up with his back to goal and bring his team-mates into play, Ruari can serve a multitude of purposes at the top end of the pitch and is capable of changing games at the drop of a hat."
Paton said it was "a no-brainer" to take the opportunity to join a "successful and ambitious" side sitting third in the Premiership.
"I think I can bring other people into the game as well as scoring goals - I don't believe in being selfish," he added.
