Derby County midfielder Craig Bryson is set to leave Pride Park and join Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen, the club has confirmed.

The 32-year-old has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Dons ahead of next season, and he will join his new club when his current contract expires at the end of June.

The Rams confirmed in their retained list earlier this month that they had offered Bryson a new deal at the end of last season, but he has instead opted for a return north of the border.

That means Bryson will now end his eight-year association with Derby, during which time he registered 276 appearances and scored 42 goals.

He made a total of 32 appearances under Frank Lampard last season as the Rams once again suffered play-off heartbreak, but the Scotsman did not nail down his place in the side for a prolonged period.

He now returns to his homeland, but it is not the first time he has featured in the Scottish Premiership as he started his career at Clyde and joined Derby from Kilmarnock in 2011.

The Verdict

This is a move that will disappoint Derby fans, as they would have been hopeful of Bryson extending his stay at Pride Park for at least another season.

However, the former Scotland international is clearly keen to move back to Scotland, where he will play more frequently, and Aberdeen have pulled off a real coup in landing him.

Bryson evidently loved his time at Derby, as he always showed that his passion for club was genuine. It is clear that his professionalism will be a big loss to the dressing room.

I also don't think the Rams hierarchy can be blamed for their role in the departure, as they did offer Bryson a new deal. This means that the move is very much his decision, and it has been respected by the club.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.