Today’s signing of St Mirren captain Kyle Magennis completes our business for the transfer window.
The club is confident we have emerged from this period in a strong position, despite the well-documented uncertainties surrounding not only Scottish football but the wider world that we live in.
Jack Ross and his squad have enjoyed an excellent start to the season – currently sitting third in the Premiership – thanks to the collective efforts of some new faces mixed with some tried-and-trusted stalwarts.
Our early pre-season preparations were boosted by the arrival of free transfers Alex Gogic and Drey Wright. Alex has become an instant favourite with supporters as our midfielder enforcer, while Drey showed a glimpse of what is to come with his first goal for the club against Rangers.
They were joined by one of the brightest up and coming talents in Scottish football in Kevin Nisbet, whose early impact speaks for itself.
Six goals and two assists in eight appearances – not to mention his relentless work rate up front alongside Christian Doidge – have already led to talk of him becoming a Scotland international in the not too distant future. Kevin, who had been a long-term target, cost the club a six-figure sum but is already well on the way to justifying the faith placed in him.
Stephen McGinn earned a deal that will run until the end of the season to add experience, leadership and versatility to our dressing room – while Jamie Murphy offers proven quality.
Dillon Barnes arrived on loan to challenge on-form Ofir Marciano for the gloves, while a six-figure sum secured former Scotland Under-21 international Kyle – who offers real drive in a number of positions and is already well known to Jack, who handed him his debut as a St Mirren player at 18 years of age.
Like Kevin, he fits the profile of a young, hungry local talent who we see improving in Leith under the guidance of Jack, assistant John Potter and the rest of the dedicated staff at our training base.
We were able to recruit as a result of some careful player trading and taking the strategic decision to run with a tighter first-team squad.
Adam Jackson, Daryl Horgan and Florian Kamberi left Easter Road for fees that were reinvested back on to the pitch.
We said goodbye to some popular loan players and some seasoned campaigners, alongside Development Squad prospect Ben Stirling – in part to create a clear pathway for breakthrough talents like Josh Doig, Steven Bradley and Ryan Shanley, with others within the Academy desperate to follow in their footsteps.
Fifteen-year-old goalkeeper Murray Johnson – a Scotland youth international – has also benefited from sustained exposure to the first-team environment, under the tutelage of our new goalkeeping coach, Craig Samson.
Nine of our young players have been loaned out, looking to earn the right to play first-team football on a weekly basis to boost their development alongside a training programme at HTC that keeps them in touch with their parent club – with the exception of Yrick Gallantes.
Philippines international attacker Yrick has pursued an exciting opportunity with the newly-formed Azkals Development Team – which effectively sees the national Under-23 side compete in their domestic top-flight – that will run until next June.
As a club committed to the continued development of young players – as evidenced by Ryan Porteous winning a senior Scotland call-up – we have awarded professional contracts to six young hopefuls.
Connor Young, Jack Brydon, Jacob Blaney, Josh O’Connor, Murray Aiken and Robbie Hamilton will all be given every opportunity to make a name for themselves and carve their own little bit of Hibees history.
On top of that, we were able to secure Australian international Martin Boyle to an extended contract at Easter Road as he enters the peak years of his career and remains a huge influence on and off the pitch.
We hope you like the look of your squad for Season 2020/21.
None of this would have been possible without the backing of our loyal supporters – through season ticket sales that have exceeded 11,000, contributions to Hibernian Supporters, our fastest-selling strip of all time and a few of our other initiatives.
We are all in this together. We Are All Hibs.
EXTENDED CONTRACT
Martin Boyle
IN
Alex Gogic
Dillon Barnes (loan)
Drey Wright
Jamie Murphy (loan with a permanent contract to follow)
Kevin Nisbet
Kyle Magennis
Stephen McGinn
OUT
Adam Bogdan
Adam Jackson
Ben Stirling
Daryl Horgan
Florian Kamberi
Greg Docherty (end of loan)
Jason Naismith (end of loan)
Marc McNulty (end of loan)
Stephane Omeonga (end of loan)
Steven Whittaker
Vykintas Slivka
LOANED OUT
Callum Yeats
Connor Young
Fraser Murray
Jack Brydon
Innes Murray
Jayden Fairley
Josh Campbell
Kevin Dabrowski
Tom James
Yrick Gallantes
