Grassi has opted to join a club in his native Italy

Defender Davide Grassi has left Aberdeen after signing a deal with an unnamed Italian club.

The 24-year-old Italian had been offered a six-month deal but was holding out for a longer stay.

A spokesman told Aberdeen's website: "Given it is his homeland, his decision is understandable."

Grassi, who began his career with Parma before spells with Cattolica, Bonifika, Mérida and Sant Andreu, joined Aberdeen last summer.

The defender suffered a triple cheekbone fracture in September but played on with a protective mask.

Manager Mark McGhee admitted that it was only Grassi's form in the latter stages of the season that persuaded him to offer the six-month deal.

In the present market, we think we have done really well to sign an international player Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee

Grassi is the second defender to leave the Dons this week, left-back Charlie Mulgrew having joined Celtic after his Pittodrie contract expired.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen have completed the formalities of signing defender Rory McArdle, who now has two Northern Ireland caps after making his international debut against Turkey in Santiago during their summer tour.

The 23-year-old had signed a pre-contract agreement earlier in the summer but has now put pen-to-paper with the Dons after his contract ended with Rochdale.

Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee told his club website: "Rory McArdle represents the type of signings we are trying to make.

"I want players who are going to improve the squad, are going to be good enough for the SPL but have a little bit of potential about them, some improvement in them.

"He is not the finished article and we don't know how good Rory will go on to become.

"He has just broken into the Northern Ireland international team, so there is a little bit of development there as well, which is good as we don't just want to be bringing in players who have done it, seen it and maybe lack the hunger we need. I think it is an exciting signing in that sense.

"Everything we heard about him was positive and, from what we saw of him, thought he was good enough to join us.

"In the present market, we think we have done really well to sign an international player."

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