his only goal for the club against Carlisle United. Aberdeen Mulgrew was due to join Swindon Town in July 2008 for a fee of approximately £150,000, but pulled out of the move. He eventually left for Aberdeen on 15 July 2008, where he signed a two-year deal, moving for an undisclosed fee. Mulgrew scored the only goal against Motherwell at Fir Park on 16 August 2008 with a left-footed free kick, in his second competitive match for Aberdeen. He scored two goals, a volley and a free kick, against Celtic in a 3–2 defeat on 27 September 2008. On 16 May 2009, during the penultimate league match of the 2008–09 season at Ibrox Stadium against Rangers, Mulgrew and Rangers' Kyle Lafferty were at the centre of controversy. As Mulgrew made a clearance from his own half, Lafferty made a sliding tackle on him. Both players squared up to each other and Lafferty fell to the ground clutching his face as though he had been headbutted. Referee Stuart Dougal sent Mulgrew off for violent conduct, but television pictures clearly showed that Mulgrew had not made clear contact with Lafferty. Lafferty was seen to wink to a teammate after Mulgrew had left the field. Mulgrew later had his red card rescinded and Lafferty was given a two-month suspension. In October 2009, Mulgrew was offered a new contract by Aberdeen, but he rejected the deal and left the club at the end of the 2009–10 season. In 83 games for the Dons, Mulgrew scored ten goals, including a string of free kicks. Return to Celtic On 1 July 2010, Mulgrew returned to Celtic on a three-year deal, becoming new manager Neil Lennon's first signing. On 2 January 2011, having played only a handful of games, he played against Rangers in a 2–0 win at Ibrox on the left wing. On 29 January, he deputised for Daniel Majstorović at centre back against former team Aberdeen in a 4–1 League Cup semi-final win at Hampden Park. He scored his first goal for Celtic in that game, nodding home Kris Commons' corner from close range. Mulgrew became a regular in the centre of defence alongside Majstorović. In the Scottish Cup semi-final on 17 April, he scored his second goal for Celtic from a long-range free kick; like his first goal, it was at Hampden Park and against Aberdeen. On 21 May 2011, Mulgrew kept up the