Four players leave Hibs as club announce retained list and loan stars make parent club returns

Hibs have confirmed their retained list after the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.

Attacker Elie Youan is the only senior player to depart with his contract at an end while young trio Owen Calder, Dean Cleland and Jamie McMurdo also make way. Dan Barlaser, Dane Scarlett, Kai Andrews and Munashe Garananga return to Middlesbrough, Tottenham Hotspur, Coventry City and Copenhagen respectively after loan spells in the Premiership.

Youan joined Hibs on loan in 2022 from Swiss side St Gallen before joining permanently a year later. He’s featured 118 times for the club, scoring 25 times with 21 assists, warming himself to supporters with his maverick style and corner flag waving celebrations. Head coach David Gray has guided the club to Europe for the second time after a fifth place finish.

Who has left Hibs at the end of their contracts?

They ended the term with one point fewer than their haul from a third-place finish the season prior and Conference League second round qualifiers were unlocked by Celtic winning the Scottish Cup last Saturday. A statement reads: “Hibernian FC can today confirm its retained list of players ahead of the 2026/27 season.

“Hibernian forward Elie Youan will depart the Club following the expiration of his contract. Loanees Dan Barlaser, Kai Andrews, Dane Scarlett and Munashe Garananga have all returned to their parent clubs. Three Academy players will also depart this summer: Owen Calder, Dean Cleland and Jamie McMurdo. The club would like to thank all departing players for their hard work and contributions, wishing them all the best for the future.”

Meanwhile, Hibs forward Ante Suto’s dreams of going to the World Cup with Australia are over after he was released from their training camp. Boss Tony Popovic has been assessing his options across May ahead of naming his squad for the tournament in America, Canada and Mexico. Hibs teammate Martin Boyle remains in the squad but Suto - who signed for the Easter Road side from Slaven Belupo during the winter transfer window - is part of a group that have been axed. Former Hearts defender Kye Rowles and ex-Livingston forward Tete Yengi are added to the group.

Who will not be going to the World Cup with Australia?

A Socceroos statement reads: “Eight players have been added to the CommBank Socceroos train-on squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ pre-camp in Sarasota, Florida. Alessandro Circati (Parma), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids), Awer Mabil (Castellon), Kye Rowles (DC United), Mat Ryan (Levante), Paul Okon-Engstler (Sydney FC), Tete Yengi (Machida Zelvia, on loan from Livingston) and Kai Trewin (New York City) have been added to the squad and arrive this week.

“Daniel Bennie (QPR), Raphael Borges Rodrigues (Wigan Athletic, on loan from Coventry City), Anthony Caceres (Macarthur FC), Mitch Duke (Macarthur FC), Dylan Leonard (Schalke), Alex Robertson (Cardiff City), Gianni Stensness (Viking) and Ante Suto (Hibernian) have been released from the training camp. The final FIFA World Cup 2026™ squad of up to 26 players is due to be submitted to FIFA by June 1.

“The CommBank Socceroos face World Cup co-hosts Mexico at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on May 30 (May 31, AEST), before taking on Switzerland at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on June 6 (June 7, AEST). Popovic and the CommBank Socceroos coaching staff are using the Sarasota camp to assess a wider pool of players in the train-on squad before finalising their selection.”