FORMER Rochdale defender Rory McArdle has finally joined up with Aberdeen after his contract at Spotland ran out yesteday.
The 23-year-old Northern Ireland Under-21 international will meet up with his new team-mates on Monday when pre-season training officially starts.
McArdle, who is a central defender but can play in any position across the back four, is seen by Dons boss Mark McGhee as an ideal replacement for Charlie Mulgrew, who left for Celtic yesterday.
McGhee told Dons official site RedWeb: "Rory McArdle represents the type of signings we are trying to make. I want players who are going to improve the squad, are going to be good enough for the SPL but have a little bit of potential about them, some improvement in them.
"He is not the finished article and we don't know how good Rory will go on to become. He has just broken into the Northern Ireland international team so there is a little bit of development there as well which is good as we don't just want to be bringing in players who have done it, seen it and maybe lack the hunger we need. I think it is an exciting signing in that sense.
"Everything we heard about him was positive and from what we saw of him thought he was good enough to join us. In the present market we think we have done really well to sign an international player."
McArdle began his career with Sheffield Wednesday befotre moving to Rochdale in 2007.
He scored at Wembley in Rochdale's losing League 2 play-off final in 2008, and helped them win automatic promotion this season.
