Northern Ireland U21 defender Kyle McClelland has resolved his future after joining Scottish Premiership club Hibernian on a three-year contract.
McClelland, who is leaving Rangers, had recently been linked with a number of English clubs, including West Ham United and Sheffield United.
But the 20-year-old has opted to join Hibs where he will initially join up with the Edinburgh outfit’s Development squad with the ultimate aim of breaking into Lee Johnson's first team plans.
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On Twitter, McClelland said he was relishing the next chapter of his young career and thanked his agent Elliott Fillingham for helping secure the move.
He wrote: “Delighted to be here for the next three years. Big thank you to @CAABase and @elliottf77 for sorting this deal. Time to work.”
McClelland is a highly-rated graduate of Rangers’ youth system and featured heavily for the Ibrox club’s Under-18s and B Team, playing in the UEFA Youth League.
He also had a taste of senior football after a loan spell at Falkirk where he made eight appearances and has also represented Northern Ireland at U21, U19 and U17 level.
Hibs Academy Director Steve Kean described McClelland as a “cultured centre-back who is excellent at breaking lines and making passes”.
He said: “We’re delighted we’ve managed to bring a player of Kyle’s quality to the club and into the Development Team.
“He’s a real modern-day centre-half that is very comfortable stepping out with the ball and building attacks from the back.
“Defensively he’s a very good one-on-one defender, which shows he has real belief in his own ability.
“Our Development Squad games programme will really push him on as he experiences different types of opposition, different challenges and different experiences.
“We aim to develop his all-round game so he can eventually become a first team player.”
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