Hibs defender Kyle McClelland has signed a season-long loan deal with NIFL Premiership side Coleraine.

Glentoran were also keen on securing the former Northern Ireland Under-21 cap's services but the centre-back will join up with the Bannsiders, who are managed by former Hibs forward Dean Shiels and finished sixth last year. 

Hibs sporting director Malky Mackay said: "This is a further opportunity for Kyle to gain regular experience of senior football.

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“Moving to Northern Ireland and competing in a new league will give Kyle different tests and will provide him with a good platform to work on his game. We look forward to seeing how he progresses.”

Speaking to Coleraine's website, McClelland said: "This is a big step in my career, I think this move is going to make me a better man overall and give me as much experience as I can get.

"I had a good phone call with the gaffer, everything he told me about the club and their expectations and where he wanted the club to go. Everything he said was a big part of why I wanted to come here. I'm just buzzing to get started.”

Shiels added: “We are very pleased to welcome Kyle to the club. For his age, he seems to be well above his years. In and out of possession he’s very comfortable. He came through the academy system at Rangers, his coaches speak really highly of him.

"Hibs were delighted to get him and signed him on a long-term deal. I want to thank David Gray for being so accommodating with this loan. I think Kyle is going to thrive with his quality.”

McClelland, 22, joined Hibs in the summer of 2022 following his release by Rangers but has made just four competitive appearances for the Easter Road side, with most of them coming in the League Cup group stages that same summer under Lee Johnson. 

He joined Cove Rangers on a season-long loan early in the campaign but returned to Hibs in March. McClelland then spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Queen of the South, winning the Doonhamers Travel Club Young Player of the Year award and sharing the Doonhamers Travel Club Player of the Year award with striker Gavin Reilly.

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He could come up against former Easter Road team-mate Jacob Blaney, who made a permanent move to Coleraine's league rivals Crusaders earlier this summer. 

Goalkeeper Murray Johnson has also headed out on loan and will spend the 2024/25 campaign with Championship side Airdrie - his second spell with the Diamonds after a successful, albeit brief, stint at the Excelsior at the start of the 2022/23 campaign.