Hibs dive into day one of summer transfer window - but early deal hopes tempered by record of leaving it late

Get ‘em in early. Or wait to secure someone from the very top end of your wanted list. As the summer transfer window officially slides/swings/creaks open tomorrow, Hibs will find themselves in a familiar position.

You may have lost count of how often David Gray has said that, in an ideal world, he’d like to get all of his recruitment done early. When Hibs report back for pre-season training on Monday week, he’d love to have everyone – bar those delayed by international commitments – forming a welcome committee for the three or four key signings brought into strengthen the squad.

History teaches us, of course, that this isn’t going to happen. And, looking at the four market windows Hibs have navigated during Gray’s time as manager, there’s an argument to be made for biding time and gambling on better quality becoming available nearer Deadline Day.

Let’s break down the dealings under Gray and director of football Malky Mackay, since summer of 2024.

First dealings

A massive overhaul would have been needed even without a change of manager late in season 2023-24. While the departures began as soon as the final ball had been kicked, it took Hibs a little while to get moving on incomings.

Josef Bursik was the first man in the door on June 24, the former England Under-21 goalkeeper arriving amid no little fanfare. Yeah, about that.

Other early arrivals were Warren O’Hora and Marvin Ekpiteta, so that’s one hit and one miss, before Hibs went into a sort of market stasis for all of July, with only Jordan Smith coming in. Things picked up in August, with Kieron Bowie and Nicky Cadden among the new faces.

And Deadline Day was busy, with Jack Iredale signing and Nectar Triantis securing his loan return, while Dwight Gayle arrived as a free agent on September 12, once the window was officially closed. In total, Hibs brought in a dozen players, with Junior Hoilett, Myko Kukharevych and Hyeo-kyu Kwon rounding off the business.

Given the amount of player churn experienced in the summer, it was perhaps no surprise that Hibs made just a single signing in the January 2025 window. They really could have done without Alasana Manneh, truth be told.

Second season syndrome

Mackay and Gray were better prepared for the gaffer’s second crack at a summer window. And they’d made an early start by securing Jamie McGrath on a pre-contract agreement, meaning he was there on day one.

Raphael Sallinger was in at the start of June, too, while Josh Mulligan came in towards the end of the month, with Thibault Klidje – the club record signing at £1.5 million – following in mid-July.

With Grant Hanley and Miguel Chaiwa coming in at the start of August, the only late business involved Dan Barlaser’s loan move on Deadline Day – and Zach Mitchell coming in on an ill-fated loan after the deadline had passed.

The performances of McGrath, Mulligan and – eventually – Sallinger demonstrate the value in finding a target, pursuing the player with vigour and getting the deal done early.

January was a very different sort of window. Not quite a panic. But certainly a late rush of activity, influenced partly by Hellas Verona refusing to take no for an answer in their pursuit of Kieron Bowie.

Hibs made six signings in the mid-season market. The first of them, Owen Elding and Kai Andrews, didn’t arrive until January 29, with Dane Scarlett following a day later.

And three players went through the madness of completing moves on Deadline Day, with Ante Suto, Felix Passlack and Munashe Garananga all involved in a race to beat the clock.

This year’s grand plan

A striker remains a priority, despite Martin Boyle’s late change of heart in signing a one-year extension. But you know how easy it is to find the sort of physical, mobile, clever, goal-scoring centre forward Hibs want/need …

One more central defender is the minimum requirement, regardless of Rocky Bushiri’s injury prognosis, with the end of Garnanga’s loan spell leaving them short. Although there is the potential to see Lewis Gillie step into more first-team consideration this year, he’s still just 18, so don’t expect too much.

Another midfielder would be useful, too. And then there are outgoings. Actually, when you think about it, there’s plenty of business to be done at a club well aware that finishing fifth last season was below expected standards.

With that first UEFA Conference League qualifier looming on July 23, time is already pressing.

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