Hibs sign Newcastle United winger Alan O'Brien!!!

Last updated : 25 June 2007 By Steve Forbes


Hibs today confirmed that they have landed Newcastle United and Republic of Ireland international winger Alan O'Brien, Revealed on www.Hibernian-mad.co.uk last week, see link below.

http://www.hibernian-mad.co.uk/news/loadroll.asp?cid=ED11&id=341611

O'Brien, 22, has signed a 3-year-contract at Easter Road and becomes Hibs boss John Collins' third signing of the summer, following Clayton Donaldson from
York City and Brian Kerr from Motherwell.

Hibs will have to pay compensation for the player as he is 22-years-old and it's expected the fee will be around the £200,000 mark.

Hibs beat off FIVE Championship sides to land the speed merchant winger.

He has been capped at U14, U15, U16 and U19 level as well as at full International level.

The young Irishman has five international caps and is looking to progress his career at Easter Road.

Speaking to the OFFICIAL club website - www.Hibernianfc.co.uk - He said:

"Any player who has worked under Tommy will tell you that their football education has benefited greatly from his influence and guidance. He is an excellent coach and I'm certainly looking forward to working with him again, but there is also the opportunity to work with John Collins. As a player John has pretty much seen and done it all, and as a manager he has already made a great impact at Hibernian.

"Everybody in the game is I think aware of what has been happening at Hibernian over the last few years, the quality of young player coming through the ranks into first-team football is exceptional. I have enjoyed my time at
Newcastle United immensely but I believe that with Hibernian I can progress both at Club and International level."

Hibs boss John Collins was obviously delighted to have captured O'Brien and said:

"We are delighted to have signed Alan on a three-year contract at Hibernian. He is a young player who has had the best possible grounding at Newcastle United and while his first-team experience has so far been limited his quality is without question, and that I think is underlined by his appearances for the Republic of Ireland. A few other Clubs were naturally drawn to him as his current contract at Newcastle was coming to an end, but Alan has chosen Hibernian to progress his career knowing that this Club continues to provide the best possible platform for a young player to learn and enjoy the game.

"Alan is a wide player and very, very quick. He knows already the way we like to play the game and we expect that he will see a great deal of the ball. He is an exciting young player and one that I am sure our supporters will appreciate."


EXCELLENT signing, let's hope all the Hibby's on various message boards will chill out a bit now eh??

Tell us what you think of this news on the www.Hibernian-Mad.co.uk message board, at the link below.

http://www.hibernian-mad.co.uk/mboard/loadboard.asp