Aberdeen beat Hibs yet again in the transfer market with the signing of Vicente Besuijen.
The highly rated Dutch kid was unveiled at Pittodrie on Monday and Stephen Glass was delighted to get his man.
In announcing Besuijen’s capture, the club claimed to have beaten off competition from Scotland and abroad.
And Record Sport Online can now reveal that Shaun Maloney ’s Hibees were also keen to sign the 20-year-old who had been capped by the Netherlands national team up to u19 level.
However, the Dons were willing to stump up more money for the ADO Den Haag man and were able to pip their rivals, who have since signed Demetri Mitchell.
It is once again a sense of déjà vu for the Easter Road side, who seem to miss out on transfer targets to Aberdeen on a regular basis.
Record Sport Online takes a look at five players who opted for the North East instead of the capital.
Funso Ojo
Aberdeen saw off Hibs to sign the Belgian midfielder from Scunthorpe United in the summer of 2019 for a fee of £125,000.
Both clubs had transfers offers accepted for the player, but Ojo decided to team up with then Dons manager Derek McInnes, who was chuffed to seal his signature.
"I couldn't be more pleased to get Funso," manager McInnes told the club’s website.
"He is a player who will fulfil a key position within my squad."
The former PSV youngster failed to find his feet in his first couple of seasons at Pittodrie but has now become a regular in the side under new boss Stephen Glass.
Ross McCrorie
A year later, the Dons again beat the Hibees in their pursuit of Ross McCrorie, who joined the Dons on a loan deal from Rangers that later became a permanent transfer the following summer.
Hibs were the early front runners for the versatile midfielder, and chairman Ron Gordon was buoyant at the prospect of his arrival.
“We’re in negotiations” he told Hibs TV. “Ross is a terrific young player”
However, Derek McInnes snuck in right under their noses to hijack a move, and McCrorie has rarely missed a game in red in his 18 months so far in the North East.
Dante Polvara
As recently as earlier this month, Shaun Maloney was left reeling after missing out on another transfer target to Stephen Glass and Aberdeen.
Record Sport Online revealed that the American youngster’s former head coach at Georgetown University Brian Wiese helped the Dons edge their domestic rivals to land their man, after contacting friend and Dons legend Bobby Clark who now lives in the US.
Wiese said: “Bobby knows all about the university because his son Jamie is over here and he also keeps tabs on us.
“He knows Dante is a good player and he put us in touch with the chairman Dave Cormack and Stephen Glass. I just made the introduction at the end of the day.”
Aberdeen striker Christian Ramirez also had a hand in the transfer, as confirmed this week.
He said: “I got reached out to by him and he picked my brain on Aberdeen, their philosophy, style of play and thoughts on him coming at a young age”.
Dons’ supporters will be eager to see their new man in action once he is up to speed in his new surroundings.
Niall McGinn
In January 2018, Northern Irish star Niall McGinn returned to Pittodrie for a second time following his six months in South Korea, and revealed that he had turned both Hibs and Hearts down to be reunited with Derek McInnes.
McGinn met with Hibs boss Neil Lennon at Hibs training ground, and even attended a fixture at Easter Road.
But the former Celtic man later explained his reasons for returning to Aberdeen on an episode of the Open Goal podcast.
He said: “Hibs played Celtic around that time and I went to the Hibs game, and later went to the training ground to meet Lenny.
“I spoke to Hearts, I spoke to Hibs – I had good clubs that wanted to sign me but obviously it was a no-brainer to come back to Aberdeen.
“I knew what I was coming back to there as well. Building a new training ground, I knew I’d played my best football here and always had a good relationship with the fans.”
Gavin Rae
Way back in 2012, the Dons were able to fend off interest from Hibs to sign former Scotland international Gavin Rae, who admitted the lure of playing for his hometown club was too good to pass up.
Speaking to the Express, Rae confirmed Hibs interest in signing him, but said his mind was already made up.
He said: “I spoke to Hibs on Thursday, I was down at their training ground. But between Hibs and Aberdeen, I was going to pick Aberdeen because of being from here and wanting to play for them.
“I used to come here with my old man. My grandad was an Aberdeen fan, my dad and then myself. Pretty much all my family are, so that’s why I’m delighted to be here.”
A whole decade later and it appears that Aberdeen beating the Easter Road side to a transfer target has very much become the norm.
