Former Don Brian Irvine believes Dylan McGeouch’s arrival at Aberdeen is a statement of intent by the club.
The former Celtic and Hibernian midfielder joined his new team-mates in making the trip to Dubai yesterday for the club’s winter training camp after becoming manager Derek McInnes’s first signing of the January transfer window.
Irvine, who scored the winning penalty when the Dons last won the Scottish Cup in 1990, believes the Aberdeen fans will be excited to see McGeouch, who has been targeted by the Dons on two previous occasions, finally put pen to paper on a two-and-a -half-year deal after leaving Sunderland.
Irvine said: “Dylan McGeouch is a good player and he had a fantastic final season at Hibs.
“It is clear Derek has been a big admirer of what he can bring to the team given his interest in the player in the past and the signing is one which Aberdeen fans will be excited about.
“He is a player who has shown he can play in Scottish football and he will bring creativity, experience and influence in the midfield, an area which has been badly affected by injuries this season.
“His signing is a real statement of intent by the club and if he can carry on where he left off at Hibs he will be a really successful one too.
“McGeouch has clearly been a key option for Aberdeen and the manager will be delighted to have got him on board in time for Dubai.”
Meanwhile, St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright is resigned to seeing Matty Kennedy follow McGeouch in making the move to Pittodrie.
The Dons have made an offer to the Saints winger as they attempt to complete a pre-contract agreement to move to Aberdeen in the summer and Wright expects Kennedy to head north.
He said: “Derek has kept me informed about Matty and I think they have now made him an offer.
“We are putting an offer to him as well because I don’t want to lose him.
“But, hand on heart, I don’t think we will be able to keep him. I think he will go to Aberdeen.
“I hope I am wrong and will keep encouraging him to stay and the club to keep him but, with Aberdeen in for him, I think that’s what will happen.”
