Celtic have signed winger Jonny Hayes from
Aberdeen on a three-year deal for an
undisclosed fee.
The 29-year-old Republic of Ireland winger
scored against Celtic in the 2-1 Scottish Cup
final defeat last season.
Hayes, who was under contract at Pittodrie until
2019, had also been linked with English
Championship outfit Cardiff City.
Celtic attacking midfielder Ryan Christie, 22, will
spend season 2017-18 on loan at Aberdeen.
Christie, who joined Celtic from Inverness
Caledonian Thistle in 2015, was loaned to the
Dons for the second half of last season and
scored seven goals.
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Celtic signing Hayes in scoring action
Former Leicester City player Hayes previously
worked with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers at
Reading.
"This is a huge honour for me," he told the Celtic
website. "It was hard last year seeing all the
celebrations and all the stuff on social media
and you want that for yourself and to be part of
it.
"You can't get away from the Champions
League. I can imagine it is the reason many
players have wanted to come here.
"Whether you're a football fan or not, everybody
knows about the atmosphere of Champions
League nights at Celtic Park. I'd be lying if I said
I didn't want a part of that."
Aberdeen rejected two offers from Cardiff for
Hayes in January, and the Championship side
resumed their interest at the end of the season.
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock admitted defeat in
their pursuit of the winger, though, with the
player opting to rejoin Rodgers at Celtic Park.
Hayes made 206 Aberdeen appearances in all
competitions, scoring 29 goals, since arriving
from Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2012.
He provided 19 assists in the Premiership last
season, the highest in the division, and was a
member of the Republic of Ireland squad called
up for the 1-1 draw with Austria last week,
although Hayes did not add to his three
international caps.
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