Aberdeen star admits January transfer that took just ‘three hours’ to complete was ‘unexpected’

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Aberdeen were one of the busiest Premiership sides across the January transfer window.

The Dons promised to back manager Jimmy Thelin during the month and the Swede was able to bolster his squad as Aberdeen made six new additions.

They kicked things off with the signing of Kristers Tobers for £700k from Grasshopper before loaning Jeppe Okkels from Preston for the rest of the season.

Defenders Alfie Dorrington and Alexander Jensen followed, the latter a £600k recruit from Swedish outfit IF Brommapojkarna.

And then on deadline day, Thelin completed his defensive overhaul with the free transfer of Mats Knoester who had just left Ferencvaros.

Earlier in the day, Aberdeen were linked with signing a striker to provide much needed competition for Kevin Nisbet, as well as covering for the crocked Ester Sokler.

In the end, the Dons struck a deal with Charleroi to take Palestinian forward Oday Dabbagh on loan for the rest of the season with an option to buy.

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Oday Dabbagh his Aberdeen transfer deadline day switch

Dabbagh is his country’s record scorer and was once compared to former Bayern Munich and Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic.

He has now given his first interview as an Aberdeen player and explained how the move to Pittodrie was quick and unexpected.

As quoted in The Press & Journal, Dabbagh said: “The (initial) interest was, I think, the beginning of January. But then nothing, you know. Then last day in the transfer window, they just called me.

“It happened so fast. I really was not expecting – it was an unexpected transfer. Charleroi called me, and they said: ‘We have interest from Aberdeen.’

“I said: ‘Ok, if you found agreement for me, I will go there.’ And then it’s after two, three hours, ‘ok, everything done.’ I said: ‘Really?’

“About Aberdeen, you know, a lot of people, they told me: ‘Aberdeen, Scotland, good people, like a good team, you will enjoy, you will have a good moment there.’

“When I come here, I see it is really nice people, nice club. And you know, it is historic club, you know. So I’m so happy to be here.”

Why Jimmy Thelin signed Dabbagh for Aberdeen

Dabbagh met up with his new Aberdeen teammates on Saturday but did not play any part in the Dons’ Scottish Cup victory over Dunfermline the following day.

He watched from the stands as Aberdeen won for the first time since beating Elgin City in the same competition in January.

Aberdeen have been struggling to score goals of late. Remarkably, the last time they netted in the Premiership was January 2 in defeat to Ross County.

Dabbagh could be the man to change Aberdeen’s woes in attack and Thelin has recently described what the 26-year-old can bring on the pitch.

Thelin noted: “He’s going to be a different profile how we play this game on the pitch and help us with some thoughts in some games.

“He’s good on his left foot and good at positioning himself in the running behind the line.

“He can also bring a calmness. He uses his body around the box to help other players, but also to finish himself.”