Hibs have today confirmed that young striker Josh Landers has joined English Premiership side West Ham.
The 17-year-old striker has joined the Hammers in a deal thought to be around £100,000, with a sell-on clause also included.
Landers leaves Easter Road after 7 years having joined the club when he was 10.
He played 3 times for the first team and made his debut at Hampden against Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup Semi Final aged just 16.
Landers goes straight into the West Ham U21 squad.
Hibernian FC Sporting Director, Malky Mackay, said:
"From a Club perspective, we are pleased with the level of compensation we have received for Josh, and we are proud that our Academy has produced another player fit for an English Premier League side.
"Of course, the main aim for our Academy is to produce players for our own First Team, however, when a move like this comes up - it is difficult to deny a youngster that opportunity.
"We would like to wish Josh the best of luck with his move and thank him for all his hard work and effort during his time at Hibernian FC."
HIBERNIAN-MAD VIEW:
It's disappointing to see one of our brightest talents head out the door.
However, the club has landed decent compensation and a sell-on, that can be reinvested.
It's now upto Josh to push on, but there is previous transfers of the same kind, that may cause concern.
Back in 2021, Hibs academy kid Kane O'Connor left the Hibees for Brentford, fast forward to today and he's played for Tranent, Cowdenbeath, Elgin City and most recently Berwick Rangers, and has just left the Lowland League side to head to Australia for, according to transfermrkt, a "career break".
Ethan Laidlaw is another who headed south, and again to Brentford.
He looked like one of the most exciting kids to come through our academy in a while, but headed for the bright lights of England.
Now? He's still with Brentford, but his deal is up in the summer, and now aged 20, he still hasn't featured at first team level.
The danger for Scottish kids heading over the border is they get swallowed up in these huge academy's and are never to be seen again.
Let's hope Josh can buck the trend and make the grade.
Good luck kid.
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