New Zealand International James McGarry has joined the Dons on a three-year deal.

The 25-year-old becomes our ninth signing of the summer arriving from Central Coast Mariners for an undisclosed fee.

The left sided defender came through the ranks at Wellington Phoenix before joining Eredivisie side Willem II and it was there he earned his sole All Whites cap before he returned to his first club in 2020 and made 38 appearances.

His performances earned him a move to Newcastle Jets before Central Coast signed him in February and he went on to help them win the A-League Grand Final in their most recent season.

“The acquisition of James is an excellent piece of business by the club” said Dons boss Barry Robson.

“He’s athletic, physically strong and has the winning mentality, all of which are important if you want to be a successful Aberdeen player.

“He becomes our ninth signing in what has been a busy summer and adds another piece of the jigsaw as we look to build a squad that can compete on both domestic and European fronts this season. That said, there is still some work do and I would expect some more signings before the end of the transfer window.”

James, who recently became a father for the first time, felt the opportunity to move to Scotland was one he couldn’t refuse.

He said: “When I heard there was interest from Aberdeen, I knew it was something I wanted to explore.

“The manager explained what he is trying to build here, and it was something I was excited to be part of. I want to challenge myself at the highest level and obviously the opportunity to play in Europe again was also a big incentive.

“I can’t wait to get started and to meet the fantastic supporters of this historic club.”