Aberdeen Football Club confirms that Ronnie Hernandez has signed a permanent deal with Atlanta United, subject to receipt of the player’s International Transfer Certificate (ITC)

The Club has secured a substantial transfer fee, over and above the loan fee in 2021 with AFC retaining a significant sell-on for the player.

Commenting on the deal, chairman Dave Cormack said: “This is a good outcome for the Club and for Ronnie. We’ve recouped the vast majority of our investment in the player with the potential for future returns through a sizeable sell-on. It’s also good for Ronnie who is now settled in the States with his wife and children.

“As the Club has stated on numerous occasions, there was nothing out of the ordinary in this signing or subsequent loan and transfer.

“Ronnie is a super player, with a great attitude and professionalism and we’re obviously disappointed it didn’t work out for him or us at Aberdeen.

“He was identified as a young talented international right back which was a position that our football management team wanted to address. He was known to AFC but under contract. Atlanta United’s scouts recommended Ronnie too, from their vast experience of recruiting South American players. The football management team did their homework, spoke with the player, knew the transfer fee, and made the decision to sign the player, subject to board approval.

“The investment for Ronnie’s transfer came from an interest-free loan from my family, which was subsequently converted to shares. The board believed this to be a good investment for the Club. Had we any inclination that he would rarely play, we would never have signed him.”

Cormack reiterated that the decision on any player is up to the football management team, subject to budgets agreed by the board.

“Ronnie signed for Aberdeen with a view to developing and then moving to England or Europe in two to three seasons under a deal where both the Club and player would benefit from his time with us.”

Hernandez signed just prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown and, having spent almost all of 2020 away from his wife and daughter, mostly in isolation, and not getting any playing time, the Club made the decision to give Ronnie compassionate leave just before Christmas 2020.

Cormack added: “With Ronnie not being part of the football management team’s plans, and the toll on him being away from his family, we were left with the task of finding him a new club or putting him on loan. The Club and his agent approached MLS/Atlanta and others. Atlanta was the only option that came to fruition on a loan basis, saving the Club his wages and providing Ronnie the opportunity to get back playing. He has subsequently won back his place in the Venezuelan international team.”

AFC Finance Director, Kevin MacIver, said that the facts laid out give a full and accurate account of the situation. He added: “Ronnie has always been our player. This deal with Atlanta United, means that they have not only effectively taken on Hernandez’s full wages for the remainder of his contract with Aberdeen, but are paying a significant fee for his transfer, whilst we retain a very good sell-on for the future.”