Hibs' Merouane Zemmama signs for Middlesbrough in £200,000 deal

Last updated : 31 January 2011 By Steve Forbes

Hibs have today announced that Moroccan midfielder Merouane Zemmama has joined English Championship outfit Middlesbrough.

The fee agreed is said to be around the £200,000 mark, with Zemmama signing a three-and-a-half-year-deal.

The 27-year-old leaves the Hibees after an eventful 4-and-a-half year stay in Edinburgh.

Zemmama joined the Hibees from Raja Casablanca on a 5-year-deal in 2006, on a free transfer.

It then emerged that Zemmama was still under contract to the Moroccan club, and that Hibs would have to pay a fee.

Hibs stumped up in the region of £300,000 to get him out of his contract, and allow him sign up at Easter Road.

He was also part of the Hibees 2007 League Cup winning squad.

Zemmama has played 88 games for the Hibees scoring 11 goals, but would have played a lot more if it wasn’t for two long term injuries.

First he broke a bone in his foot that ruled him out of the last three months of 2007/08 season, and kept him out for the first month of the following season.

He has also just returned from a cruciate knee injury that has kept him out since March this year.

“Zouma” also spent a season on loan in the UAE with AL Shaab, following the refusal of his new wife and child of a UK visa.

Hibs fought this, and he was allowed to return the following season.

An eventful stay in Edinburgh, but Zemmama is a wonderful little player when he is on form, and his part in helping the club win the 2007 League Cup won’t ever be forgotten.

Everyone at Hibernian-Mad would like to wish him the very best of luck at his new club.