John McGinn signs four-year deal with Hibernian

HIBERNIAN have signed former St Mirren midfielder John McGinn on a four-year deal, the club has announced.

New Hibs signing John McGinn. Picture: SNS

The highly-rated 20-year-old is the club’s seventh signing of the summer, following Mark Oxley, Antonio Reguero, Marvin Bartley, James Keatings, Martin Boyle and Dan Carmichael.

The Scotland Under-21 international said that Hibs was the ‘right move’ for him, after Hibs and St Mirren agreed a development fee for McGinn, believed to be more than £100,000.

He added: “There were other options available, but once I weighed it all up I quickly realised that Hibs was the right move for me at this stage in my career.

“The manager is really ambitious and I wanted to be part of his plans to move Hibs forward and get the club back into the Premiership.

“I’m still a young player and I believe Alan Stubbs will help me to develop into becoming a better player.

“I’m looking forward to helping the team win games and to show the club’s supporters what I’m capable of.”

McGinn, who will wear the Number 18 shirt this season, made nearly 100 appearances for St Mirren in all competitions between 2012 and 2015, scoring four goals in the process.

Rejecting a new offer from the Buddies, he flew to America for a trial with MLS side Houston Dynamo - managed by Owen Coyle - and was also the subject of interest from Scottish Premiership clubs and teams in England.

Hibs head coach Alan Stubbs said he was ‘thrilled’ to complete the signing of McGinn.

Stubbs, who signed a new contract earlier this week, added: “We’re delighted that John has signed for the club - his arrival symbolises our ambitions for the future.

“He is an extremely talented young player with huge potential and I’m looking forward to seeing John continue his development here at Hibernian.

“John had other options, so we’re really pleased that he has chosen Hibernian and the aim is for him to achieve his career goals at our club.”

Stubbs stressed that McGinn has not been signed as a replacement for want-away Scott Allan.

McGinn’s older brothers Paul and Stephen are currently with Dundee, while the trio’s grandfather Jack McGinn is a former Celtic chairman and SFA President.