New Dons striker Jayden Stockley spoke with RedTV after signing his pre contract in the Pittodrie Boardroom this evening.

“I am delighted to have signed the pre-contract. It is a load off my mind for the summer, knowing where you are going to start the new season.

“I first heard of the interest from Aberdeen a couple of weeks ago. I heard little things coming through. As soon as I heard about it, I was very excited. This is a massive opportunity for me. Everyone I spoke to for advice said it was an opportunity I had to take.

“There were other offers on the table but I wanted to come to Aberdeen. There’s the lure of winning trophies, a chance to achieve something in what is already a very good team, a team that is improving very year. I wanted to be part of it.

“The manager was another big reason for me. He is someone who is well known in England having played down there. I was flattered by the interest from him, and the fact he had been watching me play. He made me feel wanted. He knows the type of player I am and how I play and he wants me to be part of his team. The plans he outlined for the future are really exciting.  

“To have the opportunity to be involved in European football was also a big part of me coming here. It is something I am very much looking forward to. It is going to be a new experience and probably something every footballer wants to achieve, but not that many get the chance to do. Hopefully we can have a real good go next season in Europe and see where it takes us.

“Finding out just how early pre-season training started was a bit of a shock! But this is the job we love and every player wants to get back as soon as possible after they have had a break. Bring it on!

“I was with Bournemouth from the age of seven. Seeing the club rise dramatically up the leagues has given me a taste of success and it is one of the main reasons I am joining Aberdeen. I want to be successful and I want to win things. Being on the outside watching their success over the past couple of season just makes me even more eager to win something myself.

“I am from Bournemouth and all my good friends play and work at the club so I am so pleased for them that they have secured their place in the Premier League. They deserve it. The fans deserve it as well after sticking by the club even when they were struggling in the lower leagues. They play great football as well. They play the game the right way.

“I have had a number of loan spells over the years. Portsmouth was a great experience. I think it is similar to here, the fans were very passionate and it was a tremendous environment. I have heard a lot of good things about the Aberdeen support. The pressure from the fans gets to some players but it’s something I thrive on.

“It has been hard because I am still quite young and I have had a lot of brief loan spells. You don’t know if you are staying at a club or if you are getting called back the next month. It was good to get some game time under my belt at Exeter and I’m grateful to them for giving me the chance to play. I had a good time there.

“They have helped me get to a level where I can achieve things and have success – hopefully I can do that wearing this shirt

“I have a lot of experience of going into new dressing rooms, the nerves you get when you walk through the door for the first time and see the lads. I am sure I will be nervous the first day I walk into the dressing room at Aberdeen, but I have heard there is a very good group of players here. I can’t wait to get started.

“Having a young family, getting used to living at home for a bit will be nice as this season has been a bit manic. They support me the whole way and I know they can’t wait to start life in Scotland.

“I have kept a keen eye on Scottish football more in the past two weeks than I have the past ten years! The game in Scotland does get quite a lot of exposure. I am aware of players who come up here and then play in England and do well. I am not going to sit here and say I am watching Scottish games very week because it would be a lie, but I am jealous of the success players up here have. The chance to win trophies, the chance to play European football. I would not get that chance to play in Europe if I signed for a team in England.

“I spoke to a good friend of mine, Steve Lovell, who of course played for Aberdeen. He had nothing but good things to say about the place. He is already talking about coming up to visit me and he is going to help me settle in. It’s nice to have links like that, makes it easier to settle in.

“I also know Ryan Fraser. He is a funny lad! It was a shame he got injured this season whilst on loan at Ipswich because he was absolutely flying. He is really impressing people down south with his speed and agility. He is fitting in with the way Bournemouth play and I think he has got a massive future down there. He is a very good player and I think he will make it in the Premiership and hopefully we see a lot more of him next year.

“As a Manchester United fan, I know today in the anniversary of the Cup Winners’ Cup final! I am delighted to have joined the club on such an important day in the club’s history.”