Better late than never. Kenny McLean put pen to paper on a three and a half year contract with Aberdeen on Monday, but it was not the first time the talented midfielder had the chance to become a Don.
The 23-year-old was involved in the Aberdeen youth set-up in Glasgow from the age of 12, but opted to join Rangers three years later rather than try to make his way through the ranks at Pittodrie.
Willie Miller, the then Dons director of football, had three meetings with McLean and his parents, but was unable to convince the midfielder to choose Pittodrie ahead of Ibrox.
McLean’s decision did not work out as he was eventually released by Rangers before going on to blossom at St Mirren.
The midfielder became a first team regular with the Buddies and captained the side before opting for a new challenge with the Dons after making the move to Pittodrie earlier this week.
And the midfielder is pleased to be reunited with some of the players from his early days with the Dons.
He said: “I was part of the coaching set-up with Peter Weir in Glasgow for three years until I was 15.
“There are a few players here, such as Ryan Jack, Nicky Low and Clark Robertson, who I played with.
“It will be a massive help having familiar faces about. It is great to be back because things went a different way and now I want to do as well as I can.
“I think I can fit in well.
“Aberdeen create a lot of chances and score a lot of goals and I hope to add to that.”
The St Mirren support was understandably crestfallen to lose one of their most important players on transfer deadline day – which will make their attempt to avoid relegation to the Championship all the more difficult.
But McLean said the opportunity to join the Dons was too good to turn down.
And he hopes he has left on Paisley on good terms.
He said: “The people were very good with me when I was leaving and wished me all the best.
“Everybody wants to play at the highest level in their career and this is a step up for me.
“I was in seeing the squad on Tuesday and they wished me all the best.
“They are a very good group and I hope they and the club can go on to do well.”
McLean, who was capped 11 times by Scotland under-21s, believes the move to Pittodrie will enhance his prospects of breaking into the Scotland national team.
Peter Pawlett, Ryan Jack and Mark Reynolds have all been involved in recent senior squads and McLean believes trading Paisley for the Granite City can help him come to the attention of manager Gordon Strachan.
He said: “I think this move will give me a better springboard to further and better my playing career.
“The Scotland squad is something that every young Scottish player looks at. The chances that have been given to players over the last year or so does open the eyes a bit to what can be achieved.
“I just want to do as well as I can and if it comes then so be it, I will do all I can to make it happen.”
The news of McLean’s arrival at Pittodrie helped make up for some of the disappointment at the League Cup semi-final defeat by Dundee United at Hampden on Saturday.
Having already been knocked out of the Scottish Cup, Derek McInnes’ side only has league football to look forward to.
But McLean is convinced his new club has the quality to finish the season with a flourish by pushing Celtic all the way in the title race.
He said: “Aberdeen were sitting at the top of the table for a long time and having played against them I know how strong their squad is.
“We just need to take it game by game starting with Ross County on Saturday.”