Hibs’ young goalkeeping prospect Murray Johnson has been training with English Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion, NTOF can reveal.
Brighton and Hibs recently announced a strategic partnership which has ‘an emphasis on player development at both clubs.’ Part of the agreement will see players from both clubs head to the Premier League and cinch Premiership for training purposes.
Brighton are partnered with Hibs. (Photo by Andy Rain – Pool/Getty Images)
Johnson has been down south with Brighton as part of this agreement. The goalkeeper has already had interest from Premier League champions Manchester City while others are said to be keeping tabs on his situation. Johnson’s trip south isn’t necessarily with a view to a permanent Brighton transfer.
Hibs have four strategic partners including Brighton, the others being Lowland League outfit Civil Service Strollers, League Two side Stenhousemuir and USL Championship club Charleston Battery, who are based in America.
Easter Road sporting director Graeme Mathie told NTOF: “Brighton are a club who really value bringing through young players and they want to expand their scouting network in Scotland. They are happy to work with us and have taken Murray Johnson down for training.
The young goalkeeper (left) is admired by clubs south of the border. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
“We’ve been given some really good feedback. It wasn’t so much about him going down on trial and them wanting to take him from us. It was more about Brighton telling us what he is good at and some areas he can improve on. We’ll get in touch again and show him the development plan we have for him.
“Hopefully Murray gets into the Hibs first-team in the next few years and his final destination is the English Premier League. That would be great.”
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