Aberdeen have completed the signing of former Celtic and Hearts midfielder Paul Hartley.
Scotland international ends unhappy spell in England
Aberdeen have completed the signing of former Celtic and Hearts midfielder Paul Hartley.
The 33-year-old becomes Mark McGhee's sixth summer signing as the Dons boss continues to revolutionise his squad at Pittodrie.
Hartley was allowed to leave former club Bristol City halfway through his contract after he failed to settle off the field in England.
As a result, the Scotland international was close to a return to Hearts, but the move to Tynecastle fell through.
Instead Hartley arrived at Aberdeen's training base at Loughborough on Tuesday to meet with the cub's management team and he was impressed with McGhee and director of football Willie Miller.
"Both clubs were looking for my signature," Hartley told
RedTV. "It (Hearts) was an option but as soon as I spoke to Mark and Willie I knew I was working with genuine people who really wanted to bring me to the club. They sold the club."
Hartley, who left Celtic Park for Ashton Gate last summer, is keen to impart his winning mentality and experience on the club's younger players, such as Fraser Fyvie and Peter Pawlett.
Potential
"The younger players have potential, they are looking for that experienced player to come in and help them and improve them.
"Hopefully I can bring that to the team. I have played at a very good level over the last few years.
"Aberdeen have always been a massive club and the challenge is to get them back up there.
"Hopefully I bring in a winning mentality. The big thing is to challenge for honours. It's been far too long since Aberdeen won any silverware."
Aberdeen finished ninth in the Scottish Premier League last season during a disappointing start to McGhee's managerial career at Pittodrie.
But Hartley is looking for more than gradual improvement for McGhee's new-look squad.
"People talk about the top six, but we have got to aim higher than that," he said. "Hopefully we can look for silverware."
