Chris Cadden lifts lid on late night drive in Hibs tracksuit to sign for Aberdeen after Euro tie

Right-back Chris Cadden has revealed he was so keen to sign for Aberdeen he  drove to the Granite City through the night straight after playing in a Euro game – still in his Hibs tracksuit.

In a frantic 48 hour period Cadden featured as a substitute in Hibs’ 4-1 win against Kosovo’s Malisheva at Easter Road last Thursday.

Hibs overturned a 2-0 first leg deficit in the Uefa Conference League second qualifying round to progress to the next round.

Straight after the match Cadden said his farewells to his Hibs team-mates before driving to Aberdeen, arriving in the city at 2am.

He underwent his medical and signed a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee on Friday morning.

Cadden: ‘I drove up to Aberdeen still in my Hibs tracksuit’

Boss Stephen Robinson then pitched the full-back straight into the starting line-up for the 2-1 Premiership opening day win against Hearts 24 hours later.

Cadden, 29, said: “It was madness to be honest.

“I played the last half hour for Hibs in Europe then drove up to Aberdeen after the game.

“We were keen to get it done as soon as possible.

“My wife was at the game so I dropped her back at the house then I drove up to Aberdeen still in my Hibs tracksuit.

“I got to the hotel at 2am and checked in, still in my Hibs trackie.

“Then I had my medical on Friday morning, trained on Friday, then started against Hearts the next day.

“It was a mad few days due to the change in club, the travel and late nights.

“But looking back on it now, I’m pretty glad that’s the way it went because it didn’t really give me any time to think.

“That quick turnaround helped me because I was chucked in at the deep end.

“I knew I was leaving but just went into that game (Hibs Euro tie) determined I was not going to change anything.

“I’m not good enough to turn it off and on and when I cross that white line I give my best at all times.

“Transfer or not, that was the club I was playing for at that very moment and I was always going to give 100 percent.

“So it couldn’t have gone any better signing off at Hibs with a win to get them through to the next round.

“Then starting my new career at Aberdeen by beating Hearts.

“This is a massive football club that expects success and I hope I can help bring that.”

Cadden spent five-and-a-half years at Hibs, racking up almost 170 appearances.

He previously played under Robinson at Motherwell, playing more than 100 for the Steelmen.

Reuniting with boss Robinson

Capped twice by Scotland, Cadden has played in the American MLS with Columbus Crew and in England with Oxford United.

Robinson was a key factor in the full-back switching to Pittodrie.

He said: “Part of the reason I wanted to come so much was the manager as I had worked with him before.

“He (Robinson) was desperate for me to come up.

“And he showed that straight away by putting me straight in to the team.

“I didn’t need him to sell me on Aberdeen because it’s a big club.

“But knowing I would be playing under Stephen Robinson was a big factor.

“I knew how successful we were at Motherwell where I enjoyed the football.

“And he has done very well since then.

“I just want to go out and repay the faith he’s put in me and hopefully I’ll continue to do that as long as I’m here.”

Whilst playing for Robinson at Motherwell the right-back featured in the League Cup and Scottish Cup finals in the 2017-18 season.

Aberdeen will see Cadden’s prime

They lost both finals to Celtic at Hampden.

Eight years on from that cup final double-header Cadden believes Aberdeen fans will see him hit his prime.

He said: “This feels like a fresh start and there was a real pull with Aberdeen.

“It feels like the perfect fit for me at this stage in my career.

“At this age I feel like I am coming into my prime.”

[Source: Press and Journal]