McArdle has helped Rochdale win promotion this season

Rory McArdle is excited at the prospect of life with Aberdeen after becoming the club's first summer signing.

The 23-year-old defender has agreed a two-year deal to join the Dons once his Rochdale contract expires in June.

"I'm looking forward to coming in, getting my head down for pre-season and seeing what Scottish football is about," McArdle told the club website.

"When you see the ground and look at the history of the club, I think there is massive potential here."

Rochdale, who won promotion to League One this season, had hoped to retain McArdle's services and believe they will be due compensation for the switch.

The former Northern Ireland Under-21 international moved to Spotland on a 30-month contract in January 2007 following two loan spells while on the books at Sheffield Wednesday.

I always give 100% if and when I play Rory McArdle

Dons manager Mark McGhee views McArdle as a replacement for Charlie Mulgrew.

Mulgrew, who joined Aberdeen in 2008 after leaving Wolves, has rejected the offer of a new contract as he would prefer to play again in English football.

Asked what sorted of player Dons fans can expect, McArdle added: "Just a hard-working one, more than anything. I always give 100% if and when I play."

Now that he has agreed his move to the Scottish Premier League, the centre-half will get the chance to impress Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington in friendlies against Turkey and Chile in the USA next week.

And McArdle is looking forward to meeting with SPL-based team-mates Stephen Craigan (Motherwell) and Andrew Little (Rangers).

"Once we get on the trip, I'll have a chat with them," he said. "Hopefully they might give me a bit of advice."

McGhee earlier this month re-signed two of the players youth players - defender Scott Ross and fellow 19-year-old Stirling Smith, who like McArdle can play in central defence or at full-back.

However, defender Jonathan Crawford, 20, and midfielder Nicky Clark, 19, who had both been on loan with Second Division outfit Peterhead, are being released.

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