McGinn leaves Pittodrie to join Dundee

NIALL McGinn has parted company with Aberdeen to sign for fellow SPL side Dundee United.

On Monday evening the ‘Dee’ confirmed that McGinn had signed a 18-month deal after he had been released by the Dons.

The former Dungannon Swifts and Derry City player spent the best part of 10 years at Aberdeen but has had limited game-time this season.

Now 34, the Donaghmore native has been capped 67 times by Northern Ireland and played more than 350 times for Aberdeen during two spells at Pittodrie.

Prior to that he joined Celtic from the Candystripes and made 36 appearances for the Glasgow giants as well as going on loan to Brentford.

During his time at Aberdeen, McGinn helped the club won the League Cup in the 2013-14 season and in 2017 he left for a brief spell to play for Gwangju FC in South Korea.

In season 2012-2013, his first campaign, the Tyrone man became the first Aberdeen player in many years to break the 20 goals in a season barrier.

In total McGinn made 358 appearances, of which 299 were starts. He also scored 87 goals which means he is in 15th position on the all-time AFC appearance list and 19th in the AFC goal charts.

Following his departure this week, Dons manager Stephen Glass paid tribute to McGinn.

“Niall has been an outstanding servant to the club during his two spells here at Pittodrie,” he said.

“He is now at an important stage of his career where he wants the opportunity to play every week and unfortunately, we are not in a position to offer him that at the moment.

“I’ve no doubt Niall’s determination will prove him a success at his next Club, and he goes with our very best wishes.”

At international level McGinn enjoyed a stellar career with Northern Ireland. He scored his first international goal in a World Cup Qualifier away to Portugal and at the European Championships in France scored a stunning goal in the memorable 2-0 victory over Ukraine in 2016. His most recent cap came in October of 2021.

McGinn’s 18-month deal will take him up to the end of the 2022-23 season. The experienced winger went straight into the squad for tomorrow night’s game against St Johnstone.