Jonny Hayes Signs One-Year Contract Extension

Jonny Hayes has signed a one-year contract extension with Aberdeen that will see him stay with the club until 2023.

As part of the deal, it was also see Jonny start his coaching career with the AFC Youth Academy.

Signed in the summer of 2012 by Craig Brown from Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Jonny played a key role for the Dons for five positive seasons under Derek McInnes, where he formed a famous forward partnership with Adam Rooney and Niall McGinn, winning the League Cup in 2014 before being sold to Celtic.

The midfielder’s contract with Celtic expired in June 2020 and Jonny became a free agent paving the way for him to successfully negotiate a return to the Dons on the 23rd of June 2020.  He has made 284 appearances for Aberdeen, scoring 35 goals.

Jonny told the club website: “There are many reasons why I have signed a new contract.

“This season has been disappointing so far and it is not where we want to be as a football club so from a personal point of view, I couldn’t leave here when there is still so much to achieve.

“The manager will be looking for a positive reaction from the team over these next three games and working under him will be a new chapter for me in my continual need to learn about the game.

“The Club have also been brilliant and have given me a chance to do a bit of coaching within the Youth Academy which I really appreciate.

“I feel that I owe the club more than the Club will ever owe me. They gave me a platform to show what I could do when I was signed from Inverness back in 2012. My family love living here. My son is in the pre–Youth Academy and my daughter loves the area. My wife loves it as well. It has always been a family orientated decision to be here.

“Not just the Club, the city itself has been great for me. I always feel that I have got on well with the supporters. They have been brilliant with me throughout. I now have a personal relationship with a lot of the fans as well, and other people that I have met at Pittodrie.”

Manager, Jim Goodwin added: “I’m very pleased Jonny will be remaining at the Club. He is a fantastic role model for the younger players in the squad but there is still a real desire there from him to continue improving as a player.

“He’s a player who enjoys training every day and clearly wants to make a genuine contribution to the team and to delivering success for Aberdeen.”