Manchester United midfielder Jacob Devaney has joined Scottish Premiership side Hibernian on a season-long loan, the club confirmed on Friday. The 19-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at St Mirren, returns to Scotland after attracting interest from a number of clubs.
Devaney's rise through the ranks
Devaney has been a prominent figure in Manchester United's academy setup, captaining the Under-21 side at just 18 years old. He has yet to make his first-team debut for the Red Devils but featured in pre-season friendlies alongside senior teammates, scoring in a 5-0 victory over Rosenborg in July after coming off the bench.
Born in Barnsley, where his father Martin played from 2005 to 2011, Devaney has represented the Republic of Ireland up to Under-21 level.
Hibs secure highly-rated prospect
Hibernian, who finished fifth in the Scottish Premiership last season, will hope to compete in the Europa Conference League this campaign, facing Gent in qualifying next week. Hibs sporting director Malky Mackay expressed delight at securing the midfielder's services.
“We’re delighted to welcome a player of Jacob’s calibre to Hibernian FC,” Mackay said. “He’s a young player with an excellent background and, importantly, he already has experience of playing in the Scottish Premiership. A lot of clubs were understandably interested in Jacob, so we’re delighted that he saw his future at Hibs. I would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts in getting this deal over the line.”
Manager David Gray welcomes Devaney
Hibs manager David Gray also praised the signing, highlighting Devaney's prior experience in Scottish football. “We’re really pleased to bring Jacob to the Club. He already has experience of Scottish football and knows the demands of the Premiership, which will be important as he settles into the squad,” Gray said.
“He’s a technically talented young international footballer who is keen to learn and develop, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the group. To have him join before the end of the window is really positive, and we’ll look to get him settled in as quickly as possible.”
Devaney will now continue his development at Easter Road, with Hibs aiming to build on their fifth-place finish and make an impact in European qualifying.
