The story so far
Despite his choice of national team, Arfield was born and brought up in Scotland, coming through the ranks at Falkirk as a youngster.
He made his first team debut for the Bairns in August 2007 aged 18 and went on to be named Young Player of the Month in the SPL four months later. After a breakthrough campaign in which he made 35 appearances, the midfielder helped his side reach the Scottish Cup final the following season, where they were defeated by Rangers, and notched 10 goals in all competitions for the club.
His time at Falkirk came to an end in May 2010 following the club’s relegation from the top-flight as he penned a deal with League One outfit Huddersfield Town. Arfield would become a regular with the Terriers during his three seasons there, helping them achieve promotion to the Championship in 2011/12, before he was released and picked up by Burnley in the summer of 2013.
Read more: Steven Gerrard pleased to start Rangers 'rebuilding process' as Scott Arfield signs four-year deal
He was a part of the Clarets side that earned promotion to the Premier League that season and then played almost every game for Burnley in the top-flight as they suffered relegation. However, it didn’t take long for the midfielder and his teammates to return among English football’s elite and Arfield’s eight goals and six assists in the 2015/16 Championship campaign ensured they bounced straight back up.
Burnley consolidated their top-flight status last season with a 16th-place finish before earning European qualification in 2017/18 by finishing seventh. Arfield’s opportunities at Turf Moor became more limited in his final season before a calf injury saw him miss the final four months of the season.
Fact file
Position: Midfielder
Age: 29
Born: Livingston
International: Canada (12 caps, 1 goal)
Previous clubs: Falkirk, Huddersfield, Burnley
This season: 20 apps, 2 goals
International career
Arfield represented Scotland at Under-19, Under-21 and International B level but was denied a first senior cap. This led him to eventually choose to represent Canada, who he qualifies for through his Toronto-born father.
He made his debut for the Canucks in March 2016 and went on to play a key role in last year’s Gold Cup campaign, where Arfield scored in the opening day win over French Guiana as his side progressed through the group stages only to fall short against Jamaica in the quarter-finals.
What has been said?
Former Falkirk manager John Hughes
"With Scott, you're getting five players in one. He can play wide left, wide right, number 10 or the two sitting midfield roles.
"His attitude is second to none. You would get out of your bed early every morning just to go and work with this guy.
"He always wants to learn. The way he trains is infectious.
"I used to batter him verbally when I played beside him in the reserves and he just gave it back. I thought then 'this guy is going to make it'."
Burnley manager Sean Dyche
"(Arfield and teammate Dean Marney) have been tremendous servants for the club and if their futures can be aligned in a simple process then we would obviously be open to that.
"It's important for any player here - we try and be really fair with them - but particularly ones who have done what they've done - for themselves, for the team, for me, for the club. Fantastic servants."
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard
“He is a talented and competitive midfielder who has competed at a high level in the English Premiership and internationally for Canada.”
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