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Aberdeen have confirmed that Oldham Athletic midfielder Gary McDonald has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Pittodrie club that will see him become a Don when his current contract expires in the summer.

 

The 26 year old former Kilmarnock player has turned down a new offer from the Latics to return to Scotland and will put pen to a two year deal in the north east.

 

McDonald has played 91 times for Oldham since joining from Killie on a free transfer in the summer of 2006, scoring 12 times, including the spectacular winner in the Boundary Park's shock FA Cup victory over Everton earlier this season.

 

The midfielder, who can play on the right or in the centre, spent five years at Rugby Park, making 116 appearances and in the debut for the Scotland 'Futures' team three years ago, he scored against Poland.

 

Gary is delighted that his future has been sorted out. "I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at Oldham and was made a good offer to stay. However, the lure of returning to the SPL with such a great club as Aberdeen was a major factor in my decision and I can't wait for the new season to get underway."

Fingers crossed he turns out to be a good signing! Welcome aboard! 

Good stuff.

 

I will reserve judgement until at least 15 mins into the first game of next season.

Aye welcome on board loon.

 

Hoping he is the first of many.

Speaking to a couple of Killie supporters this morning, who seem to rate him, and were disappointed to lose him when he left

Good stuff.

 

I will reserve judgement until at least 15 mins into the first game of next season.

Haha - From what i remember a decent player going forward but one of those players who got moved position every week.  Perfect for us then!!

I've never heard of him, but I'd like to welcome him to Pittodrie and hope that he plays well next season.

Aye welcome on board loon.

 

Hoping he is the first of many.

Speaking to a couple of Killie supporters this morning, who seem to rate him, and were disappointed to lose him when he left

 

I was going to ask Al, seeing as you are one of those Ayrshire types, if you had the lowdown on this chap.

Seem's like a solid start to jimmy's signing frenzy, sure he will be able to do a job for us!

 

 

i hope this means that we wont be signing darren young.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_McDonald

Seem's like a solid start to jimmy's signing frenzy, sure he will be able to do a job for us!

 

 

i hope this means that we wont be signing darren young.......

 

Pretty confident you might well be right with that last part

Pretty confident you might well be right with that last part

 

That has truely made my day, i'm still getting wound up from a dunfermline fan at uni about aberdeen paying for Byrne, signing another DAFC player would be torture!

 

Decent signing who should add a bit of bite to the midfield, something we lack.

Hope he turns out alright.

 

Welcome aboard, Gary!

I remember seeing that and wondering at the time where he would end up, didn't think with us mind.

Paul Wright comments in today's Evening Express:

 

Former Don Paul Wright is convinced he’s the ideal man to fill Nicholson’s boots after he rejected a deal in favour of heading south.

 

Wright, now back at Killie coaching their youngsters, worked alongside McDonald at Rugby Park during his playing days and is full of praise for his ex-team-mate.

 

“Gary was just coming through the ranks at Kilmarnock when I was finishing my career there,†said Wright.

 

“It was clear he was a player of great potential and he’s a great box-to-box midfielder who will do very well for Aberdeen.

 

“Gary is the perfect replacement for Barry Nicholson as he’s a similar type of player.

 

“He might not be as cultured as Barry on the ball but he’s certainly a player in a similar mould.

 

“He’ll run beyond the strikers and will score goals from midfield.

 

“I was disappointed when he left Killie but maybe a change was exactly what he needed.

 

“He’s flourished at Oldham and if Jimmy Calderwood is getting a very good player for nothing.â€

He's a Dons player now so............

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

I just hope he's better than the last midfielder we signed from Oldham...

He's a Dons player now so............

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

 

Wrong site mate

I just hope he's better than the last midfielder we signed from Oldham...

 

and less injury prone....

I just hope he's better than the last midfielder we signed from Oldham...

 

Hopefully this will go some way to recouping that fee .

 

I wasn't even thinking about Bernard! I was thinking of the complete arsewipe we got from them before we got St Paul of the Treatment Table!

If he is as good as Bernard we'll have a player on our hands, but for injuries Bernard would have been a top player for us.

 

Welcome aboard Gary. Not as good a player as Nicholson yet but certainly has the potential. Pleasantly surprised to see us signing players before the last week before the season

Short interview with him on RedTV now. Made up mind as soon as he heard our interest. Wants to win trophies blah blah. Thinks of himself as a box to box player who can chip in with goals.

Looks like a positive signing. Hope he can replace Nicholson which is not an easy job considering how great Nicholson has been. But good to see us being one of the first clubs in SPL to sign someone with a bit of experience in SPL.

 

Bernard on his day was a great midfielder but didn't produce it enough.

He'll be great to have about the place!

 

 

If he was their highest earner he's surely taken a pay cut?

Had a quick look at couple of Oldham message boards... very mixed views, some pleased to see the back of him, others thought there was more to come from him.

 

Personally, I always liked him at Kilmarnock.

 

.... anyway, best of luck gary!