Teenage Aberdeen midfielder Dean Campbell has put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year extended contract that will see the 18-year-old remaining with the club he has supported all his life until at least the summer of 2023.

A product of the AFC Youth Academy and a graduate of the SFA’s Performance School at Hazlehead, Dean made history in May 2017 when he became the youngest player to play in the Aberdeen FC first team, coming on as a substitute against Celtic aged 16 years one month, having sat an English exam at school earlier in the day.

Dean has made 28 appearances for The Dons to date and his first goal came against Livingston last December.

He has made 16 top team appearances this season and was called up to the Scotland Under 21 squad for the first time last month for the European Championships qualifier against Greece, having already been capped at every age group from Under 14 upwards. He was part of the Scotland Under 19 side that defeated Germany a few months ago.

“It was not something I was expecting”, admitted Dean. “But when I heard about the offer to extend my deal, I was very happy to sign to it.

“It’s Christmas come early for me. As a huge Aberdeen fan, and having been with the club for ten years now, it’s an honour and a privilege to play for the team my family and I have supported all our lives.

“With the security of a new deal behind me, I can focus on my football and I will work as hard as I can to try and secure a first team spot. My aim is to kick on and get as much game time as I possibly can between now and the end of the season.”

A RedTV interview with Dean will follow shortly as well as the pre-match media conferences ahead of the Hamilton Academical game tomorrow.