Aberdeen fans are buzzing after the Dons announced the signing of former Rangers player David Bates [Afc.co.uk].
Bates had been frozen out at Hamburger SV in Germany, the club he joined after leaving Ibrox in 2018.
He’d been looking for a new club for some time and had been linked both with a shock return to Rangers [Homme du Match via Glasgow Live] and a move to Hearts [Edinburgh Evening News].
However, on Saturday afternoon it was reported that Aberdeen were closing in on his signature [The Scottish Sun] and in the evening, chairman Dave Cormack tweeted that only a wait for paperwork from HSV was delaying an announcement.
Official confirmation came on Sunday afternoon prior to the Dons’ Premiership clash with Ross County at Pittodrie, with Bates joining on a three-year deal.
“I’m pleased to add David to our group,” said Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass [Afc.co.uk]. “He is a young, proven, Scotland international and his arrival further increases the number of young Scottish international players we have here at Pittodrie, all of whom are going to play a huge part in our future.”
“He is here amid strong interest from other teams, particularly with the transfer window due to close shortly, so I’m delighted he has chosen Aberdeen as the place to further his career. We are eager to start working with David and look forward to seeing the impact he will have on the squad.”
The rumoured Rangers interest in Bates was almost certainly wide of the mark, given the amount and the quality of the centre-backs already at Ibrox.
However, it’s no surprise that other Premiership sides were interested in the 24-year-old, who returns to Scotland looking to kick on following an unsettled few years.
It sounds as though Glass wants to get Bates involved quickly but it will be a while before he faces his former club, with the Gers not meeting the Dons in the league until late October.
Plenty of Aberdeen fans are delighted that their club won the race to sign Bates and they have rejoiced on social media.
Here’s a selection of reactions from Twitter:
https://twitter.com/CaroleInnes0/status/1431935568267685888
Meanwhile, Rangers have been credited with interest in a free agent with Premier League and La Liga experience.
