Hibs give Yrick Gallantes update as youngsters sign up before deadline and Kyle Magennis arrival completes transfer business

Easter Road side tied up business ahead of the midnight deadline

Yrick Gallantes (centre) will spend this season on loan with the Azkals Development Team, while Murray Johnson (left) has been involved with the first team at the age of 15 and Kyle Magennis completed Hibs' transfer business

Hibs winger Yrick Gallantes has signed a season-long loan deal with the Philippines Under-23 side as the Azkals enter a development team in the country’s top flight.

The highly-rated youngster, capped once for his country, has appeared regularly for the Easter Road side’s development team and has spent time on loan at Gala Fairydean Rovers, but will now take the next step in his development by turning out for the Azkals Development Team (ADT) in the Philippines Football League.

A statement from Hibs read: “Yrick has pursued an exciting opportunity with the newly-formed Azkals Development Team which effectively sees the national Under-23 side compete in their domestic top-flight.”

The Capital club has also awarded professional contracts to six youngsters including Josh O’Connor; Connor Young and Jack Brydon who will spend the 2020/21 season on loan at Lowland League side Civil Service Strollers; Robbie Hamilton, Murray Aiken, and Jacob Blaney. The six will be given “every opportunity to make a name for themselves and carve their own little bit of Hibees history”.

The statement continued: “We said goodbye to some popular loan players and some seasoned campaigners in part to create a clear pathway for breakthrough talents like Josh Doig, Steven Bradley and Ryan Shanley, and others within the Academy desperate to follow in their footsteps.

"Fifteen-year-old goalkeeper Murray Johnson – a Scotland youth international – has also benefited from sustained exposure to the first-team environment, under the tutelage of our new goalkeeping coach, Craig Samson.

“Nine of our young players have been loaned out, looking to earn the right to play first-team football on a weekly basis to boost their development alongside a training programme at HTC that keeps them in touch with their parent club.”

The statement also paid tribute to the 11,000-plus fans to have bought season tickets, contributed to Hibernian Supporters, and bought the club’s “fastest-selling strip of all time” as the club confirmed that the arrival of Kyle Magennis signalled the end of their transfer activity.

Hibs also brought in Dillon Barnes on loan from QPR; free agents Alex Gogic, Stephen McGinn and Drey Wright; Kevin Nisbet from Dunfermline Athletic and Jamie Murphy on an initial loan deal becoming permanent next summer from Rangers.

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