Gavin Malloy became Aberdeen’s first summer signing when the 22-year-old joined from Shelbourne in the League of Ireland.

Having started out with Drogheda United’s Under 17s, he moved on to Bohemians’ youth set up before joining Shelbourne in 2021, learning his trade from some big names in the game, as he explains.

“Damien Duff was manager and Joey O’Brien and Alan Quinn were coaching there too. They’ve been massive influences on my career. The manager, he’s a great character. He was the one that showed belief and showed confidence in me.

“I also have to give credit to Joey a swell, because me being a centre-back, he showed me the ropes, showed me the little details where I can get that 1% and that 1% can make the difference.”

As well as learning. The footballing ropes, Gavin was maintaining his education. Combining the two was not easy.

“It was tough, it was tough. I was transitioning into full-time football at the time and balancing exams and studying and playing football is tough but I chose football in the end and it’s probably the right decision. I was studying Economics and Finance and that’s a pretty tough course.”

Gavin was a regular for Shelbourne and has already put together a lot of games I men’s football.

“It’s true, I’ve played a lot of football already, I’ve played in some big cup games back home, so now I’m ready to take that next step in my career. I’m pretty versatile and playing in different positions helps you learn more about the game.

“I’ve played left-back, left-wing-back, right-centre-back and I’ve played centre-mid before. My strengths would be that I’m composed on the ball, good range of pass and I like bringing the ball out from the back, I like commanding teammates around me. I read and anticipate the game very well and I don’t mind a tackle or two!

“I think I’m a good leader on the pitch. That is probably more important to me than being that kind of figure off the pitch, but I know leadership comes in all different ways. It comes naturally to me when the game is on.”

Those leadership skills seem to be something of a family tradition, as Gavin points out.

“My grandfather captained Shelbourne against Barcelona in the UEFA Cup in the 1960s. My uncle played for the League of Ireland and then my second cousin is Richard Dunne who had a great career in English football and is an Irish legend.”

The move to Pittodrie has been on the cards for a little while now, as Gavin admits.

“It feels brilliant now that it is all sorted out. It’s been a long time coming, it’s been in the works a couple of months now. As soon as I heard about the opportunity, I was delighted and I wanted to put that red shirt on.

“After speaking with people in the club, I thought it was the right step in my career. The history of the club, the size of the club, is something I want to be a part of. I spoke to family, I spoke to coaches, I spoke to my friends and everyone just thought it was the right opportunity.

“I spoke to the manager as well and that was reassuring about what was going to happen here. He just had a bit to say about my game. He had done a lot of work on me, which I was surprised about, because I know he’s only just come in the same as me, but he had done a good bit of work on me and told me how I’d fit in with the club and how the club was right for me. It was a good conversation, very impressive.

“Then coming into. the club and looking around Cormack Park, the facilities here are really good, what I expected of a club of such size. Everyone seems like a real tight-knit family around here and I’m glad to be a part of it.

“A lot of players have come over from Ireland and done really well in Scotland and I want to do the same as them. I know this club has a good record on that score with players like Liam Scales and Jamie McGrath, Jonny Hayes, who was a big player for the club, I think it’s a place where people flourish and it’s one where I think I can do that, so I’m really excited for it. Jonny had a brilliant career here, a brilliant career in Scottish football and Jamie McGrath is doing really well as well so I’d love to follow in their footsteps.

“Short term, my aim is to keep playing football and get games under my belt here at Aberdeen. Long-term, I want to play for the Republic of Ireland. Being a young kid growing up in Ireland, the only thing you want to do is put on that green shirt and I think that’s a realistic goal for me now that I’m here.”