Fraser Fyvie moves from Aberdeen to Wigan in three-year deal

Craig Brown won’t get to spend a penny of Fraser Fyvie’s transfer fee, but the Aberdeen manager is unconcerned as he has already replaced the midfielder four times over.

The Dons accepted a reported £500,000 bid from English Premier League club Wigan Athletic for Scotland’s under-19 captain, but various add-ons could boost that significantly. The three-year deal was confirmed last night, with Wigan manager Roberto Martinez saying: “I’m excited because we are signing such a strong character and a great personality at just 19 years of age.

“He’s got a tremendous future and we’re all delighted that he’s making such a big step forward in his career here at Wigan Athletic.”

Brown is sad to see Fyvie go but admits it’s a much better deal than Aberdeen got when other products of the Pittodrie youth scheme left recently.

Jack Grimmer and Chris Maguire only attracted compensation fees when they departed for England under freedom of contract and Fyvie’s deal was due to end in December. However, the fee will go towards reducing the club’s £12m-plus debt before the effects of Rangers exile from the top flight kick in.

However, Brown is convinced he already has enough talent in midfield to make sure Fyvie will not be missed.

He said: “Our budget overall is not being affected by the loss of Rangers, but I don’t get any of the transfer money to spend when the likes of Fyvie goes. What we do get is the wage he was on to give to another player but that has already been spent because we knew he was going.

“The fee goes towards reducing the level of debt at the bank but that’s a situation I knew all about when I took over the job. The budget here is generous, so I can’t complain and there is still scope to add someone. But it’s not something I will rush into as it’s too early in pre-season yet.

“The important thing is we have agreed a fee for Fraser and it was better to sell him now than wait until his contract ends. We lost out financially when Jack Grimmer went to Fulham and Chris Maguire left for Derby County. This deal is much better.

“There are add-ons, for example, and while we are sad to lose a good, young player, we didn’t really have any choice. Fraser made it clear he was going, so it was best to get him away now instead of disrupting things midway through the season.

“In a way we have already replaced him anyway as we have Stephen Hughes and Gavin Rae who we brought in last season. Rob Milsom and Isaac Osbourne are also back and fit after long spells out injured, so we have four players available and well capable of playing in that area.

“So we don’t need to add to that department. But we might still add somewhere else.”

Aberdeen will play a friendly at Elgin tonight, with Johnny Hayes making his first start since moving from Inverness. Former Celtic midfielder Niall McGinn will miss the match after having a precautionary x-ray on his damaged foot.