Dundee United manager Craig Levein has revealed his delight after finally signing Dundee skipper Scott Robertson on a three-year deal.The 23-year-old has crossed the city divide on a Bosman free transfer after spending all his senior career with the Dens Park club he grew up supporting.

The midfielder joins new Tannadice team-mate Lee Wilkie and St Mirren-bound winger Steven Robb in swapping Dundee teams in recent seasons.

However, Levein has described how Robertson's capture marked the end of a trail which began six years ago when the United boss was still with former club Hearts.

On two previous occasions, with Hearts and then Leicester, the ex-Scotland international defender offered money in a bid to land the talented youngster.

And he is thrilled to have finally captured Robertson for free.

He said: "The fact is I've been trying to sign Scott now since he was 17. I first saw him play for Dundee under-18s when I was at Hearts.

"I tried to sign him for Hearts and I tried to sign him again at Leicester and I offered money for him both times.

"Obviously I kept a very close eye on his career and how well he's been doing and I think he has improved, year-on-year.

"I'm finally delighted to have managed to get him to come and play for me and for Dundee United."

Levein has brought about an impressive transformation in fortunes since taking over at United almost two years ago, leading his side to the CIS Cup final and to the verge of qualification for Europe in the season just ended.

Much of that success has been based on the arrival of new, previously little-known faces from outside the SPL, such as Morgaro Gomis, Danny Swanson, Prince Buaben and Craig Conway.

And Levein is convinced that Robertson can fit seamlessly into the bright future he is trying to construct at the club.

He added: "Like a lot of the other players who have come to Tannadice in the last year or 18 months, Scott fits the profile of a young, ambitious, hungry, keen-to-learn and greatly-talented football player.

"I'm trying to build a successful team here and I'm sure Scott will go on to become an integral part of that."

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