McGinn Makes Hibernian Switch

Photo by Jeff Holmes

Scotland Under-21 midfielder John McGinn has signed a four-year contract with Hibernian.

The 20-year-old had been a target of Owen Coyle following a training stint at Houston Dynamo but he has chosen to stay in Scotland after Hibs agreed a development fee with St Mirren.

McGinn told the club's official website: "There were other options available, but once I weighed it all up I quickly realised that Hibs was the right move for me at this stage in my career.

"The manager is really ambitious and I wanted to be part of his plans to move Hibs forward and get the club back into the Premiership.

"I'm still a young player and I believe Alan Stubbs will help me to develop into becoming a better player."

Hibs head coach Stubbs, whose team host Montrose in the Scottish League Cup on Saturday, added: "We're delighted that John has signed for the club - his arrival symbolises our ambitions for the future.

"He is an extremely talented young player with huge potential and I'm looking forward to seeing John continue his development here at Hibernian.

"John had other options, so we're really pleased that he has chosen Hibernian and the aim is for him to achieve his career goals at our club."

McGinn rejected a new contract offer from Saints after his Paisley career finished on a sour note when his season was ended prematurely after he was speared in the thigh with a training ground pole by skipper Steven Thompson in a prank that backfired spectacularly.

McGinn began legal action against the club amid a stand-off over his development fee, which threatened to restrict his summer options, but St Mirren have moved to wish their former player well.

A club statement read: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank John for his services to St Mirren Football Club.

"John had been with us for more than half of his life having joined when he was eight and in that time will be best remembered for being a member of the 2013 League Cup final winning team.

"We wish John all the best in this new chapter in his life (except against St Mirren of course).

"This agreement allows both parties to move on with their respective positions, it also kills off all the speculative stories in the media."