Hartley enjoyed a fine season in the Championship with Bristol City

Aberdeen have signed Paul Hartley on a two-year contract and made the Scotland midfielder their new club captain.

The 33-year-old, capped 25 times, has been released by Bristol City after a year at Ashton Gate.

He told the club website: "Aberdeen have always been a massive club and the challenge is to get them back up there.

"Hopefully I bring a winning mentality. The big thing is to challenge for honours. It's been far too long since Aberdeen won any silverware."

Hartley was a near ever-present for the Robins last season, scoring five goals for the Championship club.

However, with his family remaining in Scotland, he was keen on a return home and City manager Steve Coppell consented to his early release.

He spent two seasons at Celtic before his move to Bristol City and rose to prominence as a central midfielder during his time at Hearts.

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He had been strongly linked with a return to Tynecastle but Hearts manager Jim Jefferies has made more attack-minded players a signing priority.

"Hearts was an option," Hartley told the Aberdeen website .

"But as soon as I spoke to Mark (McGhee) and Willie (Miller) I knew I was working with genuine people who really wanted to bring me to the club. They sold the club."

Hartley is keen to share his experience with the club's young players such as Fraser Fyvie and Peter Pawlett.

"The younger players have potential, they are looking for that experienced player to come in and help them and improve them," said the new signing.

"Hopefully I can bring that to the team. I have played at a very good level over the last few years."

Defender Zander Diamond will be Hartley's vice-captain at Pittodrie.

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