'Outstanding leader' Shinnie's exit to Caley Thistle confirmed

Graeme Shinnie has described it as "a full-circle moment for me" as Inverness Caledonian Thistle confirmed the midfielder's return when his Aberdeen contract ends next month.

The 34-year-old became the first man to captain two different sides to Scottish Cup final triumphs when he led the Dons to victory over Celtic a year ago.

That came 10 years after he did likewise for Caley Thistle against Falkirk - and he will now end his second spell with his hometown club for a return to where it all began for him in football.

"I started my career here and have some really good memories," he told Caley Thistle's website as they announced his two-year contract.

"Now I'm back, it is a great feeling and one that I'm really excited for."

For one club a returning hero, for another a departing one, Shinnie played 344 times over two spells for Aberdeen, with last season's triumph at Hampden making him the first Dons captain for 35 years to win the Scottish Cup.

Aberdeen say Shinnie was offered a two-year contract extension, which also included a pathway into coaching. However, the midfielder has chosen to move on to continue playing more regularly for the side who have returned to the Championship after winning League 1.

Describing Shinnie as an "outstanding leader", Dons manager Stephen Robinson said: "His dedication, work rate and influence within the dressing room have been invaluable and he has captained this club with distinction.

"We understand his desire to continue playing regularly, something I could not guarantee going into next season.

"It goes without saying that he leaves here with our sincerest thanks, admiration and very best wishes for the future."

Shinnie first joined Aberdeen in 2015 after leaving Caley Thistle.

A successful spell working with manager Derek McInnes followed, including several finals and top-three league finishes, before he departed for Derby County in 2019.

Shinnie returned to Pittodrie in 2023, has been a pivotal figure for three-and-a-half years and the club say he leaves a "true Dons legend".

He is 20th on the club's all-time appearance list and also made 32 appearances in European competition, which is the 12th-most in the club's history.

Shinnie's departure will come as no surprise to Aberdeen fans, with his influence on the pitch waning in a turbulent season.

The midfielder only started half of the club's league games as they limped to ninth place, with his all-action play becoming less effective week-to-week as age catches up.

Robinson clearly agrees as he starts his Aberdeen rebuild, with regular game time the sticking point in Shinnie extending his stay.

However, the captain will depart as a hero to every Dons supporter. One of their own, he visibly gave everything every time he stepped on to the pitch.

Watching a local lad fly into tackles, rally team-mates and sometimes single-handedly drive their team forward is not something fans are regularly accustomed to in the modern game. That is what Shinnie gave the Red Army.

During his first spell, he was part of a brilliant midfield three that also involved Kenny McLean and Ryan Jack as Aberdeen became Celtic's main challengers, losing out in finals and in the league.

Latterly, with lots of signings coming and going, he has been one of few consistent presences, giving the club a sense of identity.

Despite that turbulence of recent years, he got the moment he and his fellow fans had dreamed of on 24 May 2025.

Shinnie will forever be remembered for sticking Aberdeen's first penalty in the shootout win over Celtic right into the top corner.

That, and the celebrations that followed that long-awaited Scottish Cup win, will be the defining image of him at Pittodrie.