Easter Road transfer exits add fuel to fire of Hibs starlets as duo look to thrive elsewhere in SPFL

The harsh reality of being released by a Premiership club before earning the chance to make a first-team breakthrough can often be a devastating setback in any young players’ career.

The lack of proper after care, the uncertainty surrounding your next steps in the game and the psychological distress that follows are just some of the factors that a player must contend with upon becoming a free agent.

For one-time rising Hibs prospects Dean Cleland and Owen Calder, their permanent exits from Easter Road has made them both hungrier than ever to forge a successful career for themselves after a solid grounding.

Had a short spell with East Kilbride, but was recalled from his loan stint early. The 17-year-old's current deal expires in the summer, and he'll be hoping to do enough to warrant an extension come the end of the current campaign. | SNS Group

18-year-old striker Cleland, who was named as Hibs’ Academy Player of the Year in season 2024/25 after notching an impressive 38 goals, has re-joined SPFL League Two side Stranraer permanently after a successful loan spell last season.

Dean Cleland back in familiar surroundings at Stranraer

For Cleland, learning that he wasn’t going to be offered a new deal at Hibs was tough to comprehend, but he reflects on his time in Leith with fond memories and is eager to prove the club were wrong to overlook him.

“I joined Hibs when I was 14,” he told the Edinburgh Evening News. “I think my journey with Hibs over the last four years has helped bring me on massively in terms of my development. I was a wee bit disappointed to hear I wasn’t going to be given a new contract, every player would feel like that after being told you’re getting released by a club of that size. It was upsetting at the time but I handled it in the right way and I just want to use that as fuel. I’ve got a point to prove now to show why I’m good enough to be playing at that level.”

His decision to head back to Stair Park and link up with Chris Aitken’s Blues again was a straightforward one, adding: “I spent six months on loan at Stranraer last season from January and I felt comfortable there, starting almost every game until I picked up an injury. I’d built up a strong relationship with the manager and his coaching staff, so I just felt it was the best option for me to get more first-team experience under my belt and hopefully move back up the leagues.

“The manager has put a lot of trust in me, which is a nice feeling but that also comes with a bit of added pressure. Hopefully I can live up to that, knuckle down and do the business now for Stranraer. I spoke to Chris before I went off on holiday and I was told there was an offer on the table, so once I spoke to my family and my agent, I was really keen to go back to an environment I felt comfortable in.”

Owen Calder keen to showcase his talent with East Kilbride

Cleland’s former team-mate and close friend Owen Calder found himself in a similar boat earlier this summer. Shown the exit door by Hibs, the 19-year-old full-back has been snapped up by East Kilbride as the South Lanarkshire club gear up for their first season in League One.

Calder, who spent pre-season working with PFA Scotland as part of their programme for out of contract players, gained senior experience on loan at Berwick Rangers and Gala Fairydean Rovers in the Lowland League. He is relishing the chance to test himself at a higher level and showcase the talent that Hibs have let slip through their grasp.

“I really enjoyed my time at Hibs,” Calder admitted. “I made a lot of close friends there, including Dean and we shared a lot of memories together like playing in the UEFA Youth League games and winning the development league.

Ex-Hibs full-back Owen Calder (R) has completed a permanent move to East Kilbride in SPFL League One | SNS Group

“It was tough to find out I was being released but I’ve got nothing but good words to say about Hibs. They’ve been great for my development, working under Darren McGregor, Gareth Evans and Boozy (Guillaume Beuzelin), so I can’t thank them enough.

“But my focus is on East Kilbride now and doing well for them. I spoke to Mick (Kennedy) about the club’s aims and I know they’re very ambitious, so I wanted to be part of that. I played against St Mirren in a bounce game on the Tuesday and then found out about the contract offer the day after and I signed on the Thursday, so it was a hectic few days but I’m just glad to get my future sorted.

“I know a few of the boys already like Malik Zaid, who I played with at Hibs so we car-share along with a few other lads. It’s going to be a tough league against some big teams, but we want to be up there competing at the top of the table.”