Josef Bursik joins Hibs with international pedigree, English Championship experience and having played alongside Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho and Marc Guéhi.

Born in Lambeth, England in 2000, Bursik began his early footballing career at AFC Wimbledon before moving to Stoke City Academy at the age of 17.

The shot-stopper progressed through the youth ranks before various loan spells followed at Hednesford Town, and AFC Telford United before moving up the English Football League pyramid.

During the 2019/20 campaign, Bursik joined Accrington Stanley – impressing during his time in League One, making 20 appearances and earning himself a new three-and-a-half-year deal for Stoke City.

Another loan spell followed at Doncaster Rovers, before he was recalled by Stoke City, making his debut in November 2020. Bursik took his chance in the First Team and went on to make 16 appearances that season, before departing on an emergency loan to Peterborough United in April 2021.

Brought in at a crucial stage of the season, the Englishman played six times for Peterborough, keeping two clean sheets and helping them earn promotion to the English Championship.

Bursik was first choice goalkeeper Stoke City during the 2021/22 campaign, making 21 appearances in total before his season was hampered by a muscle injury.

The Englishman played another 16 times for Stoke the following season before joining Belgian side Club Brugge in January 2023.

Since arriving in Belgium, Bursik’s season was hampered by a knee injury which meant he missed the first half of the campaign, before spending the second half of the season at Challenger Pro League side Club NXT.

On the international scene, the 6 ft 3’ goalkeeper has represented England from Under-17 up to Under-21s level.

At Under-17 level, Bursik played every game at the 2017 European Championships, keeping three clean sheets as England finished runners-up to Spain on penalties.

Five months later, Bursik was part of the England U17 squad that won the 2017 World Cup in India, playing alongside the likes of Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho and Marc Guéhi.

Since then, the goalkeeper has featured multiple times at every age grade, up to and including Under-21s.