New signing Anthony O’Connor spoke to RedTV this afternoon after signing his deal:

“The move has been on the cards for a little while so it great to be here and to have everything sorted. I can’t wait to get started now and meet all the lads. There is a game tomorrow so I am hoping to be involved then.

“I am very excited to be here. Aberdeen is a massive club obviously in Scotland. I know they had a good season last year and hopefully we can improve on that this season.

“I felt moving to Aberdeen was the next step for me. I was at Blackburn Rovers for eight years. I moved over to England when I was 15. I had a great upbringing there as Blackburn are a massive club with great facilities. I was brought up the right way and was taught how football should be played. I had some good coaches there.

“I then went out on loan when I was 18 or 19 to Burton Albion. Over the next couple of years I had a few more loan moves.

“I thought it might work out for me at Blackburn but I then went Burton Albion. I felt I needed a new challenge and Scotland seemed the right fit for me. When Aberdeen showed an interest in me I could not really say no.

“So as I say I am delighted to be here.

“I only had one chat with my agent. I said to him straight away that I wanted to go for it. It is a new challenge for me and the next step in my career. I am hoping Aberdeen can achieve some things this season.

“I spoke with the gaffer today and that was all good. He stated that he had wanted to get me in for a while so that was nice to hear from the manager. So hopefully I can repay the faith he has shown in me and do really well for the club.

“I don’t see myself as an inexperienced player even although I am a young lad. I know the game well. I live and breathe football. My whole life revolves around it. Hopefully I can bring something new to the team and I can’t wait to get started and hopefully I will be pulling the jersey on for the first time tomorrow.

“The only player in the squad who I have met before is Jayden Stockley who obviously signed recently as well. I spent some time with him when I was on loan at Torquay for a bit. I did hear someone in the canteen saying that the Irish are taking over! I am looking forward to getting to know all the lads and hopefully we can do well this season.

“I played with Joe Shaughnessy as he was also in some of the Ireland squads. I think he came into the set up at U18 or U19 level and then played with the U21s. Joe is a great lad and I remember that he had nothing but good things to say about this club.

“I also spent a season with Zander Diamond when I was at Burton. He also had nothing but good things to say about the club and also the football here. He told me how competitive a league it was.

“Playing in Europe is a big thing and something you want on your CV. Hopefully I can play my part in that as well. I know the team have reached the 3rd Qualifying round the past couple of seasons so hopefully they can go further this season who knows maybe get to the group stages.

“I have also been in the international setup since I was young. I was involved from U15s all the way up to the U21s. That is another thing I want to achieve. I want to get into the senior Irish squad in the future. I know Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane come to watch the Aberdeen games from time to time.

“That is my long term aim but for now my focus is just on working hard and doing well for Aberdeen.

“I have always said that I am just happy once I am on the pitch. It does not matter where I play. I would say my preferred position is centre half. But I can cover a number of positions. I played right back for a full season when I went to Burton first of all. I then played as a holding midfielder for the full season when I was at Plymouth and that went really well for me so I can do a job in a number of positions. I am happy to play wherever the manager want me to play. I am just a lad who loves playing football. I will see what the gaffer has in store for me.”

“I have always said that I am just happy once I am on the pitch. It does not matter where I play. I would say my preferred position is centre half. But I can cover a number of positions. I played right back for a full season when I went to Burton first of all. I then played as a holding midfielder for the full season when I was at Plymouth and that went really well for me so I can do a job in a number of positions. I am happy to play wherever the manager want me to play. I am just a lad who loves playing football. I will see what the gaffer has in store for me.”