Aberdeen signs Australian striker Kusini Yengi on free transfer

Aberdeen have signed their third Australian of the summer after targeting former Portsmouth striker Kusini Yengi.

The 26-year-old will arrive at Pittodrie on a free transfer when his Fratton Park contract expires in the coming days.

Yengi – whose brother Tete plays for Livingston – has scored six goals in 11 internationals for the Socceroos.

The forward scored five goals in his first five games for Portsmouth after arriving from Western Sydney Wanderers in 2023 and netted 13 goals in all in his debut campaign as Pompey won the League One title.

But he failed to find the net for his club in an injury-hampered second season and will look to kick-start his career at Pittodrie having been released by Pompey.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin, who has also signed Australian goalkeeper Nick Suman and winger Nicolas Milanovic this summer, said: “We were quite specific about the type of profile we had identified to play as a striker for Aberdeen and Kusini has a lot of the qualities we were after.

“He is tall, strong and quick, he will work hard for the team and lead the line. He has also proven at both Portsmouth and with the Socceroos that he can score goals on a consistent basis.

“It is important for us to have different profiles of players who can bring specific strengths to our shape and how we want to play.

“With European group stage football and a busy domestic schedule, he will play a vital role for us in what we hope will be a competitive squad.”

The 6ft 2in striker said: “It feels great to be an Aberdeen player and I can’t wait to get started. I’m looking forward to playing here for several years.

“The manager and staff have all been very positive and their enthusiasm was one of the main reasons I chose to come here.

“I loved the project that was pitched to me – what the manager and coaches want to achieve and what they stand for, where they think they can utilise me as a player to help the club. So I was very excited.

“Every kid dreams of playing European football and playing for big clubs like Aberdeen so I am very excited to play in those competitions and represent Aberdeen.”