Ronald Hernandez: Aberdeen sign Venezuela right-back
Last updated on .From the section Aberdeen
Aberdeen have signed Venezuela right-back Ronald Hernandez on a four-and-a-half-year deal while cancelling the contract of midfielder Stephen Gleeson.
Hernandez, 22, joins from Norwegian top-flight club Stabaek for an undisclosed fee.
He will be available to make his debut against Rangers on Saturday, subject to international clearance.
"Everyone is excited about his potential," said manager Derek McInnes of his fourth January signing.
Hernandez, who has 15 caps, was tracked by McInnes "for some time" and his arrival follows the deadline-day departures of Gleeson and on-loan defender Zak Vyner, who has been recalled by Bristol City. Forward James Wilson has also left Pittodrie, sealing a move to Salford City.
McInnes believes Aberdeen's partnership with MLS club Atlanta United has borne fruit with Hernandez, who played in the Copa America quarter-final against Argentina last summer after featuring in the Under-20 World Cup final two years ago.
"It shows you where we are with our collaboration with Atlanta at the minute," McInnes said. "Once we were speaking with their recruitment team it was a player who they were aware of and had flagged up on their system.
"Jointly we got to know him a bit better. Atlanta have several Venezuelan players and contacts and that allowed us to make inroads into the possibility of bringing him to Aberdeen.
"Now we have got him onboard with us, he can hopefully reach his full potential and be a valuable asse. He's played against the likes of Argentina with Messi and their stars and he's done enough over the last couple of seasons to suggest that he's going the right way."
Hernandez will join his new team-mates in Glasgow on Friday night to prepare for Saturday's Scottish Premiership match at Ibrox.
He has spent the last two-and-a-half years with Stabaek after joining from Venezuelan club Zamora.
"I am so excited to start my journey with Aberdeen," he said. "I want to continue to improve and I see the Scottish league and Aberdeen as a great opportunity."
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