Hibs starlets Josh O’Connor and Murray Aiken pen new deals with Airdrie loan for next season signed

Josh O’Connor and Murray Aiken have penned two-year deals with Hibs with a loan move away for the new season organised.

The duo have put pen-to-paper on contracts until the summer of 2025 with the academy starlets heading out on loan to Airdrie next season to continue their development and experience a full campaign of first-team football.

The Diamonds finished third on 60 points in Scottish League One under boss Rhys McCabe and are currently competing in the play-offs. They are strong favourites to reach the final after a 6-2 first leg win over Falkirk. They will go head to head once again with the winner facing Alloa or Hamilton in a bid to reach the Scottish Championship.

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On the new contracts and loan moves, Hibernian FC’s Academy Director Steve Kean said to the club website: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to agree new deals with Josh and Murray; they both fully deserve this for their hard work and positive progression.

“Looking at their specific development plans, it’s clear to us that playing senior football regularly will push them on and bridge the gap to our First Team. I look forward to seeing how they develop.”

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Both will either be playing in Scotland’s second or third tier next season depending on the outcome of Airdrie’s promotion push. They narrowly missed out last season to landing a spot in the second tier after play-off heartache against Queen’s Park.