Celtic prospect Ewan Henderson is set to join Hibernian on a three-and-a-half-year contract and may finalise a permanent transfer as soon as Tuesday, according to Football Scotland.
The Bhoys gave Hibs permission to negotiate a deal with the midfielder as Henderson is out of contract in May. He signed his current terms in 2019 after Brendan Rodgers awarded the Edinburgh-native his first-team breakthrough.
But Henderson has struggled to establish his senior footing at Parkhead and has remained firmly outside of Ange Postecoglou’s plans. The midfielder has only featured once since the Australian took charge last summer with a 19-minute cameo against Real Betis.
Postecoglou has additionally only included Henderson on the bench for three of Celtic’s 20 Premiership games. So, the Hoops informed their product he was free to leave this month.
Hibs have moved to snap up a January transfer for Henderson, given Celtic’s willingness to let the 21-year-old leave. Boss Shaun Maloney has targeted a deal as he feels the Scotland U21 international will be a good fit at Easter Road after previously working together.
Maloney spent time with Henderson while Celtic’s B-team coach and feels his potential can be beneficial at Hibs. The Edinburgh outfit hired Maloney to replace Jack Ross last month.
Hibs target Henderson on cusp of Celtic transfer exit
Henderson is now on the cusp of a January transfer to leave Celtic and join Maloney’s Hibs. He visited their East Mains training ground on Monday to continue negotiations, and could now join as soon as Tuesday.
The midfielder has agreed to sign a three-and-a-half-year contract running to the summer of 2025 with Hibs. He will now look to fulfil the potential Maloney saw in the Bhoy’s B-team and ex-Dunfermline boss Stevie Crawford hailed while on loan at East End Park last season.
“Technically, he is very comfortable on the ball, he sees a forward pass,” Crawford said, via the Courier & Advertiser. “He brings a different dimension.
“Ewan has good body movement, he sends players the wrong way. He has got that slight pass in him, he is creative and I am sure that he will be an exciting player.”
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