Aberdeen: Lewis Ferguson agrees pre-contract move from Hamilton

Hamilton midfielder Lewis Ferguson has made 14 appearances since breaking into the first team in January

Hamilton Academical midfielder Lewis Ferguson has agreed a summer move to Aberdeen, with manager Derek McInnes saying he has been a long-term target.

The 18-year-old is out of contract in the summer and has been in negotiations with several suitors.

"When he first got into the Hamilton development teams and played against us, we took a closer look at him," McInnes told BBC Scotland.

"Lewis is a promising young player who I look forward to developing,"

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Ferguson missed Hamilton's 1-0 defeat by Dundee on Saturday because of an ankle injury.

But the product of Accies' youth academy has been a regular in the starting line-up since making his debut in January and has now made 14 appearances for the Premiership club.

"We cannot always go and get ready-made players at Aberdeen, but we can identify good youngsters and Lewis is one I have watched and liked for a while," McInnes said.

"It became known to us a few weeks ago that he had failed to negotiate a deal to re-sign at Hamilton, so we took advantage of that and we are delighted to get him.

"He is 18, six foot one, strong, can do a bit of everything and I think he will only get better.

"He played with an edge but has two good feet and is technically good.

"He is young in his years, but we feel he has the potential to be an Aberdeen player."

McInnes said the Dons were comfortable with the likely compensation fee they will have to pay Accies for the teenager now that he has signed a pre-contract agreement.

Hamilton manager Martin Canning admitted after his side's defeat at Dens Park that his club had tried to tie Ferguson down to a new deal.

"The club has been speaking to him for the last couple of months about staying, so it's not caught us on the hop," he added.

"We have a wage structure we work within and we have been speaking to Fergie and it's not been able to get over the line."