Josh O'Connor, son of former Hibs striker Garry O'Connor, signs professional deal with Easter Road side

Josh O'Connor has signed his first professional deal with Hibs

The son of former Hibs striker Garry O'Connor has signed his first professional contract with the Easter Road side.

Josh O'Connor confirmed the news on social media on Friday night.

Writing on Twitter, the youngster said: "Delighted to have signed my first professional contract at Hibs. Proud family moment."

The 16-year-old is a centre-forward like his dad and has caught the eye playing for the Capital club's youth teams.

He was still just 14 when he turned out for the club's Under-18 side and helped Hibs’ Under-14 team to victory in the 2018 Foyle Cup held in Northern Ireland.

O’Connor scored seven goals in the tournament, scoring doubles in group matches against Carniny and Sion Swifts.

He followed that up with a strike in the wee Hibees’ 5-1 win over Donegal outfit Inishowen in the quarter-finals before netting a brace in the 2-1 semi-final win against Glenavon before featuring in the final against St Oliver Plunketts, held at Derry City’s Brandywell stadium.

His dad claimed last year that the then 15-year-old Josh was wanted by Chelsea and Rangers, telling the Sunday Mail: “Josh is better than me, much better.

“Chelsea are after him, Rangers had a bid knocked back and there’s a five-year deal on the table for him at Hibs.

"I just tell him the right stuff to do and try to take him down the right path. I can make sure he doesn’t repeat any mistakes that I made.”

O'Connor is one of three young Hibees to have enrolled in a new course at Edinburgh Napier University, aimed at allowing footballers to combine training with studies.