Dundee United have signed experienced Dutch attacker Nick van der Velden on a one-year-deal.

The former AZ Alkmaar and Willem II player, who was already training with the Tannadice club, has followed new recruits Cammy Smith and Willo Flood in putting pen to paper within the last week.

Talking to the club's official website, the new recruit said: "I cannot wait to show my skills to the United fans. The manager convinced me when I spoke to him that this was the right club for me. He believes in me and knows what I can bring to United."

Van der Velden, who can operate either as a striker or any of either three secondary striker positions, becomes United's eighth summer signing.

Speaking to the media while the deal was being finalised, McKinnon said: "We've been looking at Nick for a while now.

"He's a fantastic footballer with a great pedigree. He is going to bring quality to the team and experience. We are really excited about bringing him in here."

Van der Velden, who has spent his entire career so far in Holland, has operated as both a striker and winger, boasting a creative spark in the final third.

"He's a top footballer." McKinnon noted. "Hopefully he can create goals [and] score goals. His experience with the young players around him will help [us]. He's a big lad and a very good footballer who has played at the highest level.

"He'll be an invaluable addition to our squad."

The Dutchman becomes McKinnon's first overseas signing at United and is confident he will set the Championship alight.

"I've got some contacts in Holland." McKinnon revealed. "We were looking for certain types of players and Nick was recommended to us by one of my contacts.

"So we pursued that, brought him over, he trained and played and instantly we could see what a player he was, so hopefully we have got him now."