Hibernian - January Transfer Window Round Up 2008

Last updated : 02 February 2008 By Steve Forbes

So the transfer window is shut and we now know the identity of new Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen's new signing's…..

hibsbadge11.gif picture by 1875steve
IN:

JOHN RANKIN - INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE:

First up was Inverness Caledonian midfielder John Rankin in a £110,000 deal, on a three-year-contract.

Rankin, 24, started his career at Manchester United, before moving to
Ross County on a free without making an appearance for the English giants.

He then left
Ross County in a £65,000 deal to sign for their bitter Highland rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Hibs beat of competition for the player from St Mirren,
Kilmarnock and Falkirk.

IAN MURRAY -
NORWICH CITY:

Ex Hibs captain
Murray arrived at Easter Road on a short term deal to the end of the season from English side Norwich City.

Murray, 26, originally left Easter Road under a cloud in 2005 when he signed for Rangers on a Bosman, leaving the club he supported as a boy to miss out on a transfer fee for his development.

He then moved on to Norwich in the summer, but struggled with injury and loss of form, before being told he could leave by new Norwich boss Glen Reoder, who replaced the departing Peter Grant.

The
Scotland internationalist can play Centre midfield, centre half or at left back and will bring a wealth of experience to our young squad.

He has already stated that he would like to win a long term deal back at Easter Road.

COLIN
NISH - KILMARNOCK:

The 6ft 4in Killie striker has been linked to Easter Road for months, following the news that he was out of contract at the end of this season.

Hibs boss Mixu moved to tie up the self confessed Hibby on a pre-contract agreement just yesterday, but made the move permanent this afternoon.

The Hibees agreed to pay a fee to secure the hitman's signing in the January transfer window and the big striker has signed a three-and-a-half-year-deal.

It is thought the fee Hibs paid to secure his signing was in the region of £150,000.

ABDERAOUF ZARABI - GUEUGNON (FRANCE)

Last but not least to sign up at Easter Road during the window is Algerian international defender Abderaouf Zarabi from French side Gueugnon.

The 28-year-old defender has signed a three-year-deal and has been granted a work permit by the home office.

He is still waiting on international clearance and a visa before joining up with his new team mates.

Zarabi is a left back, but can also play in the centre of defence as well as in the centre of midfield and has been capped 26 times by
Algeria.

Again the Hibees are thought to have agreed a fee of around £120,000 for the player.

Zarabi has previously played for Algerian side Na Hussein Dey as well as French sides AC Ajjacio and Geuegnon.

And leaving Easter Road.......

DAVID MURPHY - BIRMINGHAM CITY:

Outstanding left back David Murphy moved to Birmingham City in a deal that will eventually net the Hibees over £2m.

Murphy, 23, signed for the English Premiership club in an initial £1.5m deal on a three-year-deal and reported wages of £20,000 a week.

He arrived at Hibs an unknown from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2004 under freedom of contract and was signed by then manager Tony Mowbray.

The English born defender donated his signing on fee to the Hibees youth academy as thank you to the club for giving him a chance, a price that could reach £230,000.

He leaves with a CIS Cup Winner's medal under is arm and European Football on his CV and leaves as a legend.

MICKAEL ANTOINE-CURIER - DUNDEE:

Hibs French forward Mickael Antoine-Curier has joined first division side
Dundee on loan until the end of the season.

Curier, 24, joined in the summer from Norwegian side Haugesund BK for a nominal fee but has struggled to hold down a place in the side.

He has scored 4 goals in 8 games for Hibs, but he has signed for
Dundee until the end of the season, with a chance of earning a permanent deal at Dens Park.

TORBEN JONELEIT -
MONACO:

On loan German U21 international defender Torben Joneleit has had his loan deal cancelled by big Mixu and the player has returned to French cracks
Monaco after failing to get much first team action in Edinburgh.

Joneleit, 20, only played three games for Hibs during his stay, coming off the bench twice in the SPL and also playing from the start in the Hibees 2-0 win over
Queens Park at Hampden in the CIS Cup 2nd round.

Also leaving Easter Road on loan to gain first team experience are Hibs kids Blair Tolmie and Keegan Ayre, who are spending the rest of the season on loan at second division strugglers Berwick Rangers.

Another player heading out on loan is young Irish centre half Patrick Mailey who has joined Stenhousemuir until the end of the season
.

OTHER HIBS TRANSFER NEWS:

Hibs had a loan offer for ex hitman Derek Riordan turned down by Celtic, who are looking for a fee for the player in the region of £1m.

The Hibees are also thought to have made a bid for
Aberdeen defender Ricky Foster on Thursday night, but the bid was knocked back by the Sheep.

A £150,000 bid was lodged by Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen for ex Finland team mate Jonathan Johansson, the ex Rangers and Charlton striker was thought to be keen on the move, but his club Malmo FF turned the offer down.

Crewe Alexandra made an attempt to loan Hibs' Republic of Ireland
winger Alan O'Brien until the end of the season. Hibs are thought to have accepted the offer, but the player knocked the move back.

Tell us what you think of this news on the www.Hibernian-Mad.co.uk message board, at the link below.

http://www.hibernian-mad.co.uk/mboard/loadboard.asp