“I am delighted to finally get him.

“Gary is a player we identified as someone we wanted to work with but like a lot of these transfers they are difficult and problematic. Getting good players in the building is never easy. A lot of people have done a lot of good work to get him here and thankfully we have got it over the line.

“As I have spoken about often enough there is a real need to have that natural wide player and ball carrier. There is a need to have someone who can go past people.

“We have had the benefit and the luxury of having Jonny and Niall here for the last number of years. Both players brought a high level and consistent level of performance. To try and get like for like is always difficult but I think what Gary has got in his favour is that confidence, that ability to go past people, the ability to play both sides as well – he can play on the left and the right.

“We have different types of players who can play in the wider areas and do their work in between the lines but we feel Gary being a ball carrier is a big asset.

“I think the Aberdeen fans have been used to having that type of player. I think at home especially when teams come and sit in against us, we need that piece of individual brilliance at times and I think Gary is that type of player. Both Niall and Jonny were hugely influential and we hope Gary can be something similar. I really believe he can be.

“We hope Scott Wright will also provide us with that this season. It is important we give Scott the chance to grow this season as well as Gary.

“We have now got two exciting, attacking wide players.

“We have that real attacking threat in the wider areas. It is something which has been a bit of an identity of ours as a club. It is something we wanted to try and keep.

“Gary is at a good age. He has lacked games of late as is the way sometimes. Ryan Christie was in a similar position but we saw the benefit of Ryan playing week in week out with us and hopefully someone like Gary can also find that form. We know what he is capable of.

“Gary has been involved in Celtic’s pre-season. He has played in the games and he has trained every day so his fitness will not be that far behind us.

“I met Gary before the end of last season with Celtic’s permission and we had a good chat. So this is one I was keen to try and wrap up for a while.

“Through all my conversation with Gary, there has always been a real willingness from him to be here. He sees this as the right club for him. It hasn’t worked out for him at Celtic and I don’t think there is any disgrace in that given the level of player who is ahead of him. But I think he comes here with a point to prove. He also comes here eager to getting back to playing regularly.  Hopefully we can provide him with that platform. He is another player who comes in to add to the good players we have already got.

“Football is about balance. We have got some very good individuals in the building but we do need that natural width for this team.

“We are very specific with our signings. We have now got the wide player that we were so keen on.

“A brilliant addition to the squad and really looking forward to seeing him in that strip.

“It is a very exciting signing for us and I can’t wait to get working with him.”

“It is a very exciting signing for us and I can’t wait to get working with him.”