Ex Hibs player thanks club for 'amazing' experience despite Leith transfer frustrations as he joins rival
The former Hibs defender is back in Scotland at another Premiership side.
Zach Mitchell has thanked Hibs for the learning curve they provided him last season - as he returns to the Premiership.
The centre-back has joined top flight newcomers St Johnstone on a season-long loan deal from Charlton Athletic. Mitchell impressed at McDiarmid Park during the second half of the 24/25 season and it convinced Hibs head coach David Gray to make a move for him last summer.
He made only a couple of appearances before heading back to Charlton but now returns to where he made his Scottish breakthrough under Saints boss Simo Valakari. There’s no hard feelings though as the 21-year-old expressed his gratitude to Hibs for the opportunity they provided him with even if a lack of minutes provided some transfer disappointment.
Zach Mitchell reflect on loan spell at Hibs
Mitchell told St Johnstone’s club media: “It was an amazing experience. You know, a great club, and I have learned a lot from there. Maybe not the amount of game time that I would have liked but I think definitely a lot of learning in other ways. Hopefully I can bring that to this season. I am delighted. Obviously I was here before and thoroughly enjoyed my time. I think fell in love with Perth, fell in love with the fans, yeah, the club sort of held a special place in my heart. I want to come back and give it my all.
“I am looking forward to getting started. Last season I was following along closely and was sort of rooting for the boys. I am looking forward to getting integrated with the group. I think Simo was a big part of me rejoining. I really enjoyed his philosophy, his way of working, how he wants to play but also as I think everyone can see, his passion, his drive and the energy he brings to the team.
“He’s a big reason as to why I wanted to come back. Hopefully I can repay him for that and just really looking forward to giving 100%. I think the overriding feeling is that there is some kind of unfinished business here. I'm sort of more aware of my body and I am looking forward to trying to have a full season.”
What have Charlton Athletic said about Zach Mitchell’s loan to St Johnstone?
Speaking on why they have opted to loan him back to Saints, Charlton boss Nathan Jones said of the former Hibs defender: “Zach’s at a stage in his career where he needs to play games and we’re not in a position to offer him that, so it was about getting him a loan where he’s going to play at a very good level.
“St Johnstone ticked all of those boxes – he’s been there before, he knows the manager and he had a good spell there. It was really important that he went somewhere that got him the game time that he needs to develop. We wish him all the best and we’ll monitor him closely.”