Hibs signing 'buzzing' after transfer deal as three Easter Road figures key to securing latest summer recruit
The former Swansea City and Leyton Orient man has signed up for Hibs
New Hibs signing Azeem Abdulai has revealed the three Easter Road figures who proved key to his arrival - as a Scotland call-up is targeted.
The former Swansea City midfielder has returned to Scotland at Premiership level after time with Leyton Orient in the English Football League. He was in the Celtic academy before heading south for Leicester City’s youth system and started his senior career with Swansea City. Abdulai had been with Orient since last year and signs a three year deal with Hibs after head coach David Gray, sporting director Malky Mackay and technical performance manager David Marshall’s impressive sales pitch.
“I’m buzzing to be here,” Abdulai said. “It's just a massive club and as soon as I heard about the interest then I said I need to get it done straight away. Coming back home, it's a big thing. Like I said, the club us massive as well. It's been good. There was a lot of back and forth from the clubs but I was just patiently waiting to get told to go and then thankfully it wasn't too late but I'm here.
Who sold Azeem Abdulai on Hibs?
“Because I'm Scottish I know how big the club is. I think how the club are going and the project that they've got going is a no-brainer. I'd say my agent and then I spoke with Malky Mackay, David Marshall and the gaffer. Just positive things so I just thought yeah. I think playing down in England is what a lot of people want to do. I started down there. I managed to get a good number of games to stand me in good stead for playing at Hibs.
“I tried to follow the Scottish Premiership when I was down south. Obviously I have a few friends that play in the league or played in the league and I've always been intrigued by it so I'm just happy to be here and see it for myself.”
There have been caps at U21s level for the new Easter Road recruit but Josh Mulligan has progressed from that frontier into call-ups to join the senior squad. It’s something Abdulai is also keen to achieve with Kieron Bowie also representing Scotland while in Hibs colours.
What is Azeem Abdulai like as a player?
“It's a massive ambition of mine,” Abdulai explained. “Obviously, the country has just been to the World Cup, and it was unfortunate. I think my aim is just to do well at Hibs and hopefully from there go to the national team. I played with Josh Mulligan at Scotland U21s level. I only went to like two camps with him but from what I can remember it was good.”
So what can Hibs fans expect from their new recruit? According to the former Swansea City battler, an all-action mix of running, ball-winning, and progressive passing are what he hopes to bring to an Easter Road atmosphere he can’t wait to savour.
“Just pure running,” Abdulai added in his interview with Hibs TV. “I'll run until the final whistle. I'll run after the final whistle if I have to. I'm a defensive midfielder. I can play anywhere in the midfield. I like to win the ball back. I like to play forward. I like to get on the ball and just help my team. I've been in the stadium. I think it was the first stadium I ever went to. I know they've got a strong, strong support, and I just can't wait to make the fans happy.”