Serbian defender Nikolas Vujadinovic endured a tortuous week waiting to complete his move to Aberdeen.
Now he can finally go about the business of destroying SPL attacks with a style he reckons is perfectly suited to British football.
Born in what was Yugo-slavia, the 24-year-old started his career with Red Star Belgrade, but he has a Bulgarian passport because his grandfather, Velichko, was born there.
Balkan politics meant the 6ft 3in defender then qualified for Serbia and Monte-negro. He played for Montenegro under-21s.
In 2007 he moved to Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia, won a league title and then Italian club Udinese signed him for £800,000 on a five-year contract.
In September last year he was on the move again, this time to Unirea Alba Iulia, of Romania, on loan.
Now he has turned up in Aberdeen, again on loan, until January.
The move was far from straightforward as the club’s initial application for a work permit was rejected.
An appeal was successful on Monday at Hampden, but Vujadinovic admitted it had been another fraught chapter in his career.
He said: “It was a very bad time for me when I was waiting for the tribunal. They were very nervous days.
“I signed until January but now I want to do a very good job and it could be extended until the end of the season.
“I have used up a lot of energy in the past few days travelling from Modena in Italy to Belgrade to London to Aberdeen.
“Then I had to go to Glasgow for the tribunal and the first training session was difficult. But I have trained with the under-19s and I was happy with things.
“I was very happy to come to Aberdeen and I am excited. I hope to get games.
“I don’t know if I will be ready for the weekend against Dundee United. I will speak to the manager, but hopefully next week I will be 100% ready.”
Vujadinovic could be described as the ultimate journeyman professional, but insists it has not been of his doing.
He said: “I expected a lot when I went to Udinese. I signed a five-year contract but then there were changes of coach and general manager and I was out injured for two months.
“After that the team was playing well and they have 108 professionals correct on the books so it was very difficult for me.
“I thought Udine would be my home, but I just want to play football and I was not happy at Udinese. I still have three years left on my contract and think I might have a future there if I do well for Aberdeen.
“At Udinese I was a centre back, but when I went to CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria and won the title I played as a left back.
“It is up to the manager. A lot of teams want a left back and the manager has told me it will depend on the individual game. It’s not a problem.”
Vujadinovic knows what to expect from life in Scotland as his father’s work for a sportswear company took him to Glasgow in his formative years.
He said: “I saw Rangers play at Ibrox and I know all about Hearts and Hibs in Edinburgh.
“Aberdeen is an important club which has played in Europe and this is a good league. Football in Scotland is hard, brave and I am happy with this move. I like British football. Everybody has told me this style of football would suit me. It is my dream to play in Britain.”