Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes finally got his man as Preston forward Stevie May signed a four year deal with the Dons last night.
The Dons tabled a bid of around £250,000 for May in June but the Deepdale club was keen to recoup at least half of the £800,000 spent to sign the Scotland international from Sheffield Wednesday two years ago.
May looked set to remain at Preston when his former Hamilton manager Alex Neil was named as Simon Grayon’s successor following his departure to Sunderland and the Dons turned their attentions to Motherwell attacker Louis Moult.
But the Dons went back to Preston yesterday with a fresh bid – believed to be around £300,000 – for May, who was given his first team debut at St Johnstone at the age of 16 by McInnes.
May, who has been allocated squad number 18, was delighted to be reunited with his former Perth Saints manager.
He said: “The manager has made no secret about trying to get me in the past, which is flattering, and it’s good to finally get the deal done which I think is right for both parties and I just can’t wait to get started.”
May, who missed most of last season with a career-threatening knee injury, is Aberdeen’s seventh summer signing following the arrivals of Kari Arnason, Gary Mackay-Steven, Greg Tansey and Nicky Maynard as well as the loan signings Ryan Christie and Greg Stewart.
McInnes, who has been linked with a move for May during the last three transfer windows, believes the attacker will be worth the wait.
He said: “I’m obviously delighted to get Stevie on board and he’s a player I’ve enjoyed working with in the past and have been keen to work with again.
“To get a 24-year-old international player on a four year deal is a great piece of business by the club and I’d like to thank the board for their assistance in making it happen.”
The Dons will formally unveil May, who scored 32 goals in 81 games at St Johnstone, this afternoon with the attacker going straight into the squad for tomorrow’s match at Ross County.
The move is likely to signal the end of Miles Storey’s time with the Dons.
The Englishman, who has struggled to establish himself in the Dons top team, has been linked with St Johnstone, Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle.
The Perth Saints are expected to be close to bringing in a centre forward after allowing Chris Kane join Queen of the South on loan until January yesterday.