Mcginn enthused by his ‘exciting new challenge’

● Winger thanks Aberdeen fans and coaches for ‘great times’ at Pittodrie

Former Aberdeen winger Niall Mcginn has joined South Korean side Gwangju after his deal at Pittodrie expired.

The 29-year-old, who earned his 50th cap for Northern Ireland last season, was a free agent following five years with the Dons and has chosen to move to Asia for the next step in his career.

A link with K-league club Gwangju came about because the father of Mcginn’s former Celtic team-mate Ki Sungyueng is the club’s president.

Ki’s father met Mcginn in Belfast and persuaded a player whose career began in his native Northern Ireland to become the first from his country to play for Gwangju.

In a post on Twitter, Mcginn said: “I am absolutely delighted to have signed for Gwangju FC.

“Since I met the club president a few weeks ago in Belfast I have been researching Asian football and Korean football

0 Derek Mcinnes: Thanked. in particular. I have been very impressed with what I have discovered.

“This is a new, exciting challenge for me, one that is very different to anything I have experienced in my career to date.

“When I joined Aberdeen in

2 Former Aberdeen winger Niall Mcginn, pictured in his Gwangju playing kit, says he was impressed following his research into South Korean football.