Ryan Finnigan has revealed that his move to Dundee had been in the works for over a year, with manager Steven Pressley finally securing his signature from Blackpool last week. The 22-year-old midfielder admitted he had been on the Dark Blue radar since last summer, and the feeling of being wanted was a major factor in his decision to join the Scottish Premiership side.
Finnigan's Long-Awaited Move
“I first heard about Dundee’s interest in me a couple of windows ago but things didn’t happen,” Finnigan explained. “Then when the summer started, there were a few things in the background again so it got done quite quickly this time. It’s good to come somewhere you know they really want you.”
Finnigan spent last season on loan at Walsall after struggling for regular game-time at Blackpool. He described the last three years as “tough” and “stop-start,” but believes the move to Dundee offers a fresh start. He is currently with the squad on their pre-season trip in Hungary.
A Fresh Start in Scotland
“Having that belief and faith in me to come here and do well, that was a big part of my decision,” Finnigan said. “The prospect of Scottish football opens doors that you don’t often get in England. I spoke to the people here, got a good feeling about it, and it was a chance to change things up, get out of my comfort zone and give this a go.”
The former Southampton youth player is determined to earn a place in the starting lineup. “I need to be playing because when you do that, you’re getting minutes, you find your confidence and from there you can do great things. So the first challenge is to get myself into the team then see what happens from there.”
Box-to-Box Presence
Finnigan has vowed to bring a physical presence and goals to Dundee’s midfield. “I am a box-to-box player who likes to get around the pitch but I can also help control games and chip in with a few goals,” he confirmed. “The football in Scotland will be different, it’s very passionate so I’m excited to get out there. I am not looking too far ahead, I just want to get enjoying my football and believe that if I do that things will fall into place.”
Dundee have also made two club record bids for Luke Graham and have an agreement in place to sign Billy Koumetio from Charlton, indicating a busy summer transfer window for the club.
