Aberdeen last night completed the signing of Bournemouth’s Jayden Stockley and fellow attacker Simon Church is also set to extend his stay at Pittodrie.
The Dons have finalised a two-year deal for Stockley, 22, who has been on loan at Exeter City and the attacker is looking forward to joining his new team-mates for pre-season training next month.
He said: “I heard of Aberdeen’s interest a couple of weeks ago and I knew it was a massive opportunity. Everyone I spoke to for advice said I had to take it.
“The lure of winning trophies and the chance to achieve something in a brilliant team which is improving every year was too much to turn down.
“The manager has experience from England, he came to watch me play and he made me feel wanted.
“Every footballer wants to play in Europe but not everyone gets that opportunity, so it is something I am really looking forward to.”
Stockley could be joined at Pittodrie next season by Wales international Church.
The forward, who has scored six goals in 13 matches since arriving from MK Dons on loan in January, has a year left on his contract at Milton Keynes but Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is keen to keep him at Pittodrie.
Assistant manager Tony Docherty said yesterday: “We are in discussions. Simon has done fantastically well since he came in. So, of course, there is an interest there. He is a great lad Simon, he has really fitted into the dressing-room, he’s a fantastic trainer, good professional.
“The manager is doing his business on that.”
Stockley, a 6ft 2in forward, has impressed in his loan spell with the English League 2 side Exeter, scoring 10 goals in 22 appearances.
Exeter have made two offers to the player in the hope of keeping him at the club but Stockley has opted for a move to Scotland with the Dons.
Docherty insists there will be no easing off from the Dons as they bid to become record breakers.
The Reds need two home wins from their last two games against Hearts at Pittodrie tonight and Ross County on Sunday if they are to beat their 75-point tally of last season.
The Dons’ campaign a year ago was a record-setting one of its own with the points accumulated the best of any non-Old Firm team in Scottish football’s top flight.
With the Reds on 71 points, Docherty and the Aberdeen players are not lacking in motivation ahead of tonight’s game against the Jambos at Pittodrie.
He said: “Our motivation is to beat the record of last year and we have six points left to try to beat that tally.
“There is a collective feeling within the squad to finish strongly and to surpass that record. That is the second time in a season we have gone over 70 points and there are only two other clubs in recent years, when Hearts split the Old Firm and Motherwell, who have done that.”
