Hibs have today completed their sixth signing of the summer transfer window, with the capture of Preston North End keeper Chris Maxwell.
The 28-year-old Welshman has signed on loan until the end of the season and brings some much needed competition for the outstanding Ofir Marciano.
Maxwell joins Scott Allan, Tom James, Adam Jackson, Christian Doidge and Joe Newell in arriving at Easter Road.
Speaking to the official club website, Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom said:
“We were short of a goalkeeper with Adam Bogdan’s loan expiring and Chris ticked every box for us.
“He has good experience, he’s a presence in goal with good distribution that will help us build from the back.
“We have an excellent goalkeeper in Ofir but we weren’t looking for someone content to be number two.
“We want a fair fight and whoever starts the season in goal will deserve it.”
New boy Maxwell added:
“I’m really excited to get going.
“Paul explained what the ambitions are for the club. The aspiration should be to play in Europe and that’s something I want to be part of.
“Scottish football’s nothing new for me. My Dad’s side of the family are Scottish. He grew up in Bathgate and the rest of them are still in Edinburgh.
“I’ve been to my fair share of games and sat in the Hibs end for October’s Edinburgh Derby when I was up to see family and support Daryl.
“To be on the pitch for something like that – that’s something to look forward to.”
Maxwell has previously played for Fleetwood Town and spent time on loan last season with Charlton Athletic on loan, but failed to make an appearance.
Editor's View:
The Hibees are really putting down a marker this pre-season.
Maxwell looks like a solid keeper with plenty experience, who will challenge Ofir Marciano for the number one spot at Easter Road.
He becomes the sixth signing for the club this summer, and it's excellent that all six are in the door for pre-season training - a criticism levelled at the club in the past was that players seemed to arrived late in the window with no time to gel.
Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom will surely now be looking at adding a defensive midfieder and another striker to an ever improving squad.
There is also still interest from Hibs in former loan players Stephane Omeonga and Marc McNulty, but both deals are up the air, with Reading said to be looking for £1.2m for McNulty.
It's been an excellent summer so far, and it looks like there is more good news to come.
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