Dundee are delighted to announce the signing of striker Craig Beattie.
The 29 year old joins the club ahead of the match with top of the table Hamilton Accies this weekend.
Craig brings a wealth of experience to the squad. He has been capped at international level from under 19s through to the full national side where he earned 7 full caps. In 2007, Craig scored a late winner at Hampden against Georgia to give Scotland victory in Alex McLeish’s first game in charge.
He started his career with Celtic and made his debut as a 19 year old in a Champions League Qualifier against FBK Kaunas. His first goal came in a League Cup match away to Partick and by the end of his first season with the Celtic first team he had featured in an Old Firm game and started against Barcelona.
Craig spent 3 more seasons at Parkhead. During that time he made his international debut in a draw with Italy.
In the summer of 2007, he moved South with West Brom paying a fee of over £1 million for him.
His first season with West Brom, he scored four times before joining Preston on loan to see the season out. West Brom secured promotion in that season and the following season Craig would feature in the Premiership.
He started the first few games of the season before moving back to the Championship on loan with Crystal Palace. Craig scored five times for Palace and returned to West Brom in December. He again featured in the English top division and grabbed a goal in a 2-0 win over Tottenham before joining Sheffield United on loan until the end of the season.
Craig again started the season with West Brom in 2009/10 but soon moved on permanently, joining Championship side Swansea. He spent two and a half season with Swansea and helped them to promotion in 2010/11.
After a short spell on loan at Watford, Craig moved back to Scotland and joined Hearts. He scored in an Edinburgh derby win but his most famous goal for the Tynecastle side came when he scored a last minute penalty to beat his ex club Celtic in the Scottish Cup Semi Final.
His last game for Hearts came in the 5-1 Scottish Cup Final win over Hibs. Last season, he started with St. Johnstone and finished with Barnet in League Two in England.
Craig was watched in closed doors games over the last few weeks by Manager John Brown and has spent time training with the club this week and finally put pen to paper today to join the Dee on a one year contract.
The Manager said, “There has been a lot of doubters about Craig recently but I really believe in the player and a fit Craig Beattie will cause havoc for our opponents throughout the season and he has proven that in the past when he played at the highest level and he will again I’m sure of that.”
Craig said, “I’m delighted to have joined Dundee and from the minute I spoke to the Manager I was convinced this was the club for me and I fully intend to repay his belief in me.”
Director of Football Operations John Nelms said, “Scot and I sat down with Craig yesterday and we were impressed with his attitude and desire to play for Dundee and having seen that in person while watching him train with the squad, I’m sure he will make a real and positive impact on our campaign and the club in general”.
