Former Tottenham and Hibs star agrees summer transfer as he holds Premier League ambition
The former Hibs player has gone on to forge a successful career at the likes of Tottenham and Wolves.
A former Hibs player has joined Sheffield United with the goal of returning to the Premier League.
Matt Doherty has built a successful career with extensive playing experience at Wolves, Tottenham, Atletico Madrid and the Republic of Ireland national team. The right-back was out of contract after Wolves’ relegation to the Championship and has signed for Chris Wilder’s Blades on a one-year deal with options to extend that until 2028.
Now 34, the defender was on loan at Hibs to build experience in 2012 before joining Bury, and then his career started to take shape. Now he’s hoping for a return to the league where he has played with Wolves and Tottenham.
What former Hibs player has joined Sheffield United?
Doherty said: "I spoke to the manager and had a walk round the stadium, obviously I've played there (Bramall Lane) many times before so I know what the atmosphere can be and the manager convinced me with his vision of the team and the club.
"I'm backing the manager to get the club back into the Premier League and I'm guessing that is the goal for everyone at the end of the day. I believe in him and what he's saying to me, and I know he'll believe in his players. I've got friends who have played here - Enda Stevens, John Egan, Conor Coady - they've all told me how good a place this is to play and I know that too, I know the atmosphere can be incredible."
Wilder added: "There's no doubting we are getting a player here who knows what it takes to be successful. You've got to be a seriously good player to have played as many times as he has for the likes of Wolves, Spurs and Atletico Madrid. Matt is a top pro on and off the pitch; he still has a real desire to achieve things in his career, and he wants to do that here. He'll drive those standards we are looking for and bring the best out of others in the squad. I've talked about culture carriers a lot over the years, and that's what I see in Matt."
Sheffield United on signing Matt Doherty
Hibs landed a mention in Doherty’s unveiling. A Sheffield United statement reads: “United have added a vastly experienced operator, who boasts significant Premier League and international experience, to the defensive ranks. Matt Doherty has joined the club on a one-year deal, with an option of an extra year, after he departed Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer, having amassed close to 400 appearances across two spells at Molineux.
“With Chris Wilder stipulating his desire to add some experienced heads for the upcoming season, the Blades boss believes Doherty is the ideal figurehead for his youthful squad to look up to. Doherty's association with Wolves first began in July 2010, when he was invited for a trial and subsequently signed a two-year contract for a reported £75,000 fee after he impressed whilst playing against them for Bohemians in a pre-season friendly.
“Stints in the SPL with Hibernian and EFL at Bury followed as he gained experience, prior to cementing his place as the first choice right-back at Wolves when Dean Saunders was appointed manager in January 2013. Internationally, Doherty has over 50 Republic of Ireland caps to his name having debuted in 2018 and he also captained his country as recently as 2023 against Latvia.”