FORMER St Mirren fringe player Aaron Mooy has signed a three-year deal with Premier League giants Manchester City.

Eyebrows were raised last week in Paisley when, four years after being released by the Buddies, Mooy clinched a lucrative move to the Etihad Stadium from City’s sister club Melbourne City.

However he will have to make an impression in England at a lower level initially after he was immediately sent on a season-long loan to English Championship side Huddersfield Town.

The Australian international midfielder was at St Mirren Park for two seasons between 2010 and 2012.

He made just 10 league starts for the Buddies as he struggled to break into then manager Danny Lennon’s side.

Mooy agreed a termination of his deal with the Buddies in June 2012 after making only eight league appearances that season, before returning to his home country to join A-League club West Sydney.

Melbourne City came calling in 2014 for the 10-time Australian cap, where he has impressed for two seasons, netting 18 goals in 48 league starts.

Nevertheless his City contract, worth a reported £40,000 per week, will stun Buddies fans who watched him struggle in the black and white in Paisley.

Whether Mooy can force his was into City manager Pep Guardiola’s first-team plans remains to be seen.