Jonny Hayes signs new contract extension with Aberdeen

Aberdeen have announced that Jonny Hayes has committed his future to the club, signing a contract extension until the summer of 2023.

The experienced player’s existing deal was due to expire at the end of the season but he will now be part of manager Jim Goodwin’s plans for next season.

Hayes is in his second spell at Aberdeen, having returned to Pittodrie in 2020 after a spell at Celtic. He has made 284 appearances for the club in total, scoring 35 goals.

“There are many reasons why I have signed a new contract,” Hayes told Aberdeen’s website.

“This season has been disappointing so far and it is not where we want to be as a football club so from a personal point of view, I couldn’t leave here when there is still so much to achieve.

“The manager will be looking for a positive reaction from the team over these next three games and working under him will be a new chapter for me in my continual need to learn about the game.

“The club have also been brilliant and have given me a chance to do a bit of coaching within the Youth Academy which I really appreciate.

“I feel that I owe the club more than the club will ever owe me. They gave me a platform to show what I could do when I was signed from Inverness back in 2012. My family love living here. My son is in the pre–youth academy and my daughter loves the area. My wife loves it as well. It has always been a family orientated decision to be here.

“Not just the club, the city itself has been great for me. I always feel that I have got on well with the supporters. They have been brilliant with me throughout. I now have a personal relationship with a lot of the fans as well, and other people that I have met at Pittodrie.”

Dons manager Jim Goodwin, who took over from Stephen Glass last month, said: “I’m very pleased Jonny will be remaining at the club. He is a fantastic role model for the younger players in the squad but there is still a real desire there from him to continue improving as a player.

“He’s a player who enjoys training every day and clearly wants to make a genuine contribution to the team and to delivering success for the Aberdeen.”