Hibs have today confirmed that striker Elias Melkersen has joined Dutch outfit Sparta Rotterdam.
The 20-year-old Norwegian has joined the Eredivisie side on loan until the end of the season, with the option to buy - said to £1m + Add-ons.
Melkersen has been a bit-part player since joining the Hibees in a £500k+ deal from Bodo/Glimt last January, finding the transition to Scottish Football tough.
He has played 29 times for the Hibees, only scoring 3 goals for the club.
Speaking to the official club website, Hibs boss Lee Johnson said:
“Elias is a player that has all the attributes to be a top number nine.
“Given the return of Kevin Nisbet, we believe now is the time for Elias to get regular starts to implement all the hard work he’s put into training.
“In Sparta Rotterdam, he has a club and therefore a vehicle to get regular starts to showcase his talents.”
HIBERNIAN-MAD VIEW:
We've got to admit, we are dissapointed with this one, Elias is a kid with a lot of potential, but he has struggled at Easter Road.
You have to remember when he signed, he had only just turned 19 and was still a kid.
We still would have liked to have seen him sent on-loan further down the Scottish pyramid, to get him up to speed here, playing every week.
£1m plus add-ons would be a decent return, but he could end up being the one that got away if he has a good half season in Holland.
We will watch this one closely.
Hopefully he goes there, scores goals, and they can't afford him, and we get him back.
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