The vastly experienced German will officially take up post on 10th November, subject to visa formalities being completed.
Aberdeen FC chairman Dave Cormack said:
“We are pleased to welcome Lutz and his significant experience to Pittodrie.
“With extensive coaching, scouting, young player development and leadership expertise gained across different roles and cultures, we believe Lutz will be a catalyst in the Club’s quest to deliver its football aspirations over the next few years.
“In particular, his technical knowledge, academy development experience and global recruitment network were key factors in the Board selecting him for this critical role, as we strive to align consistent on-field success with our player-development model.
“Lutz will oversee and be responsible for all football and performance areas of Aberdeen FC to deliver on our ambitious objectives in what, today, has become a highly competitive Scottish football league.”
Pfannenstiel joins the Dons from St. Louis CITY SC in Major League Soccer, where he served for five years as Sporting Director.
There, he built the entire sporting structure from the ground up – overseeing the creation of the academy, the MLS NEXT Pro team, and a state-of-the-art training facility.
He was instrumental in St. Louis’ remarkable debut campaign, helping guide them to become the first MLS expansion club to win a regular-season conference title in 2023.