Shinnie seals stunning Caley Thistle return eleven years on from Cup glory

The two-time Scottish Cup-winning skipper signs a two-year pre-contract with the Highlanders as Inverness Caley prepare for life back in the Championship.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle have announced the pre-contract signing of Graeme Shinnie on a two-year deal, with the Aberdeen captain set to join the club on the expiry of his Pittodrie contract this summer.

Nearly eleven years to the day since he lifted the Scottish Cup as Caley Thistle captain, in that 2–1 final win over Falkirk at Hampden, Shinnie returns to the Caledonian Stadium.

He first arrived at the club as a 17-year-old in 2009, making 187 appearances, scoring eight goals. Now Caley Thistle, freshly crowned League One champions and heading back up to the Championship, have re-signed the 34 year old from Premiership side Aberdeen.

“It’s a full-circle moment for me. I started my career here and have some really good memories. It’s the club where I made my debut, came through as a young boy and, obviously, leaving by winning the Scottish Cup was the perfect way to end it,” Shinnie said.

In the years since leaving the Highlanders, Shinnie has had a career that has taken in the captaincy at Aberdeen, plus stints with Derby County and Wigan Athletic in the English Championship, before returning to Pittodrie in January 2023. Not only did he win the Scottish Cup with Caley Thistle, he captained Aberdeen to Scottish Cup glory too, becoming the first man in history to captain two different clubs to Scottish Cup victories.

Scott Kellacher’s side won League One this season despite a 5-point penalty deduction and the club’s financial turmoil, and they head into their Championship return looking to do so with a midfielder who has been there and done it at every level of the Scottish game.

“Now I’m back, it is a great feeling, and one that I’m really excited for,” Shinnie added. “It’s good to be back and I’m really looking forward to the football.”