Harkins has been a key player during his two seasons at Firhill

Dundee have completed the signing of midfielder Gary Harkins from Partick Thistle for a fee of about £150,000.

The 24-year-old, who scored 11 goals last season, had a year of his contract to run with the Glasgow club.

Dundee manager Jocky Scott said: "I've been after him since we played Thistle on the final day of last season

"I said to Ian McCall after that match 'how much do you want for him'? It's taken a couple of months to get him here, but we've got him now."

Thistle chairman Allan Cowan admitted defeat in his attempts to thwart the approach from their big-spending First Division rivals.

"The deal is worth around £150,000 plus a percentage of any transfer fee Dundee receives should Gary re-sign for another club during his contract," he told his club's website.

"We are extremely disappointed to lose Gary and we did everything we could to extend his contract on improved terms.

From a professional point of view, this is probably a good deal for Partick Thistle Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall

"When it became clear this was not going to happen, we entered into lengthy negotiations.

"We did get an increase on the original fee first offered."

Thistle manager Ian McCall thought that Harkins, who spent two years at Firhill after leaving Blackburn Rovers, would eventually play at a higher level.

"From a professional point of view, this is probably a good deal for Partick Thistle given that it became clear to us that he wasn't going to sign an extension to his current contract here at Firhill," he said.

"The harsh financial realities of football at present are such that we didn't want to see him leave Firhill for nothing.

"With the physique and talent that Gary has, I believe that if he continues to develop as a player then he has a chance to play at a much higher level."

McCall hoped to replace Harkins with players of "his calibre and potential".

Dundee have already paid a similar fee to Livingston for striker Leigh Griffiths and have also snapped up Brian Kerr from Inverness, Steve Clarke from Clyde and Chris Casement from Ipswich this summer.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version