HAMILTON ACADEMICAL last night recouped around £1m for their leading goalscorer after Tony Andreu was reunited with former manager Alex Neil at Norwich City.
The Frenchman, who has scored 13 goals for the newly-promoted side, joins up again with Neil who became manager of the Championship club last month. Accies revealed they would not stand in Andreu's way "in line with our ethos of development" allowing the player to complete the move south.
On a busy day at New Douglas Park, Hamilton also released Mickael Antoine-Curier and signed Nick Sumsky, a 21 year-old Czech midfielder, but were thwarted in their attempts to buy Rory Loy from Falkirk and to take Dean Shiels on loan from Rangers.
Aberdeen meanwhile underlined their determination to push Celtic all the way in the race for the title with the signing of Kenny McLean from St Mirren. The highly-rated midfielder signed a three-and-a-half year contract in exchange for a fee in the region of £275,000.
"I'm delighted we've managed to secure Kenny on a long term deal," said manager Derek McInnes. "He's a good young player who is still improving all the time and I think in our team he will go and show how good a player he can be. We've signed a good player to come and play with the good players already here and it's a real positive signing for us."
The former Scotland under-21 international was just as pleased to be making the move to Pittodrie. "Aberdeen is a club on the up, that's for sure, and the ambition being shown by the gaffer with the players secured on long term deals, and the players coming in, was a massive incentive for me. I know a few of the lads from when I was a young kid including Ryan Jack, Nicky Low and Clark Robertson and this move feels exactly the right one for me at this time.
"I had some great times at St Mirren and I wish them all the best for the future but I'm now an Aberdeen player which is fantastic."
McLean, 23, had signed a two-year deal with St Mirren last summer but in a statement the Paisley club revealed they had no choice but to let him move on following an "agreement" struck at that time.
"When Kenny signed a 2 year contract extension with the Club last summer he put his trust in St Mirren and agreements were made," it read. "St Mirren FC on receipt of the offer from Aberdeen FC have therefore honoured our side of the agreement as Kenny was keen to make this move. He kept his side of the agreement with his performances for the Club this season. We would like to thank Kenny for all of his efforts and wish him well at Aberdeen FC."
St Mirren moved to fill the void by signing Emmanuel Sonupe on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, while Aberdeen also added Lukas Kuljak from Borussia Dortmund.
Dundee made Stephen McGinn's move from Sheffield United permanent, and also signed striker Paul Heffernan following his release from Hibernian, while Partick Thistle brought Lyle Taylor back on loan for the remainder of the season after releasing Nathan Eccleston.
Motherwell added to their squad, signing goalkeeper George Long on loan from Sheffield United, while Hearts recruited Kenny Anderson from RKC Waalwijk.
ends
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