Hibs have completed the signing of Club Brugge goalkeeper Joe Bursik on a season-long deal - their first acquisition of the summer transfer window.

Bursik, 23, is a former England under-21 internationalist and can count AFC Wimbledon, Stoke City, and Accrington Stanley among his previous clubs. 

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Speaking to the club's website, he said: "I’m really happy to be here. It took a couple of weeks to get it done, but as soon as I heard of the interest, I was adamant I wanted to come. 

“I didn’t really feature as much as I’d have liked [after moving to Belgium]. I played a load of games for the second team after recovering from my injury, so playing-wise I’m in a good place and mentally I’ve learnt a lot. Now is a good time for me to come in, kick on, get back playing and enjoying myself; I have missed playing a lot."

His arrival brings the number of first-team goalkeepers at Easter Road to three, joining Jojo Wollacott and Max Boruc - although there is interest in Wollacott from England, with Stevenage reportedly eyeing a loan move for the Ghanaian internationalist. Scotland youth cap Murray Johnson has already agreed a season-long loan move to Championship side Airdrie. 

Hibs head coach David Gray said: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring Josef to the football club. He’s someone we’ve been monitoring for a long time due to his technical ability, pedigree, and the positive character references we’ve received. My coaching staff and I are looking forward to working with him.”

Sporting director Malky Mackay added: "I’m really pleased Josef has decided that Hibs are the club to showcase his talents. He is a top goalkeeper and a fine young man, and we look forward to seeing him at Easter Road. I’d like to thank Club Brugge for the smooth transition of Josef’s loan deal and wish them the very best in the coming season.”

A graduate of Stoke City's academy, Bursik was born in England with Czech ancestry and began his senior career with the Potters, keeping 19 clean sheets in 53 appearances spread over five years. He also completed loan spells with Hednesford Town, AFC Telford, Accrington Stanley, Doncaster, Peterborough, and Lincoln City. 

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In January 2023 he signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Belgian Jupiler Pro League side Club Brugge, linking up with Scott Parker who had been keen to sign the former England Under-21 cap while he was manager at Bournemouth. Since making the switch to West Flanders, Bursik has only made the first team as an unused substitute on 13 occasions across the league and UEFA Europa Conference League knock-out stages - although he did miss a number of weeks through injury - and his five appearances so far in Club Brugge colours have come for the Blauw-Zwarts' B team, Club NXT, in the second-tier Challenger Pro League. 

Meanwhile, Irish defender Warren O'Hora is on Hibs' radar as they look to bolster their defensive options. Currently a free agent, the 25-year-old ball-playing centre-back began his career with Dublin outfit Bohemians before moving to Brighton and then MK Dons, for whom he made 160 appearances across four seasons. 

Easter Road chiefs are hopeful of bringing in more new faces in the coming days as work continues on shaping Gray's squad for the upcoming season - and with a friendly against Edinburgh City on the cards before next week's pre-season trip to the Netherlands, Bursik and any more new signings could get their first taste of action in green and white at Meadowbank this weekend.