Michael Paton Leaves Aberdeen FC

On transfer deadline day, Aberdeen have confirmed that they have reached an agreement with striker Michael Paton to terminate his contract. Paton has not featured regularly for the Dons since first breaking into the first team squad in 2008. The agreement will benefit both parties as it means Paton is off the wage list for the Dons and the player will be able to find another club more easily as it nullifies the compensation rule.

Paton showed flashes of brilliance in his time at Aberdeen, firstly scoring at Ibrox as an unknown teenager as well as scoring a distant strike against Celtic and temporarily sparing the Dons’ blushes in the league cup against Dundee with a double. However, Paton’s fortune took a turn for the worse when former manager Mark McGhee tried to loan him to the latter club which he refused to do so. This time last season he joined Stockport County on loan where he scored 4 goals in 15 appearances before injury returned him to the Dons after only 3 months.

Aberdeen fans have long been divided over whether Paton was given a long enough run in the team. Paton scored 4 goals in 57 appearances for Aberdeen but was more often than not deployed on the wings. Whether or not the Dons have made a mistake will be something we shall find out in the years to come.