expired at the end of the 2010–11 season, Rooney signed a two-year deal with Championship side Birmingham City. He scored what manager Chris Hughton described as "a typical poacher's goal" in a pre-season friendly against Cork City, and made his league debut for the club on the opening day of the new season, playing the whole of a 2–1 defeat at Derby County. His first competitive goal for the club came from the penalty spot to open the scoring away at Middlesbrough on 21 August; Middlesbrough came back to win 3–1. He also scored the following week against Watford. In the last game of the Europa League group stage, Rooney scored his first European goal as Birmingham beat NK Maribor 1–0, but a draw between the other two teams in the group meant Birmingham failed to progress to the last 32. Swindon Town (loan) On the last day of the August 2012 transfer window, Rooney joined League One club Swindon Town on loan for the season with a view to a permanent transfer. Swindon defender Paul Caddis moved in the other direction, also on loan for the season. Oldham Athletic Although a deal had been agreed for Rooney to join Swindon permanently at the end of the season, the club's new owners questioned the validity of the contract, and the player trained with League One club Oldham Athletic during 2013 pre-season while discussions continued to resolve the situation. On 1 August, he signed a two-year contract with Oldham, with an option of a further year. He scored his first goals for the club against Port Vale, scoring twice in a 3–1 win at Boundary Park. Aberdeen On 23 January 2014, Rooney signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen. He scored on his debut two days later in a 2–2 draw with Motherwell at Fir Park, and scored his second in as many matches, as well as crossing for Jonny Hayes' opening goal, as Aberdeen beat St Johnstone 4–0 to progress to the 2014 Scottish League Cup Final. Rooney scored his fifth goal in six appearances on 25 February, to help his side end Celtic's 26-match unbeaten run in the Premiership season. On 8 March 2014, Rooney scored his sixth goal in eight appearances in a 1–0 Scottish Cup quarter-final win over Dumbarton. Rooney started for Aberdeen against his former club Inverness in the 2014 Scottish League Cup Final.