There is quite often a mass exodus from the Scottish Premiership in each transfer window.
Like it or not, many of the players who come to our league are often looking to get back to England, whethere they’ve come from there initially in search of game time or from abroad to use the SPFL as a stepping stone.
Combined with the fact our clubs don’t often offer long contracts and can be blown out of the water financially by teams down south or overseas, we do see a lot of turnover. More positively, young Scottish talent has been noticed by teams on the continent lately, particularly in Italy.
Alex Cochrane – Hearts to Birmingham
The consistent left-back was a favourite at Hearts over his three seasons in Gorgie, the first on loan from Brighton. That they only got £1million from Birmingham for him in the end was a bit of a disappointment but that was down to his contract status. He has gone on to become a mainstay in the big-spending League One club’s team as they have soared to the top of the table early on. Cochrane has played every single minute of league action and got an assist with a lovely cross in the top-of-the-table clash with Wrexham.
Theo Bair – Motherwell to Auxerre
Surprise package Theo Bair was one of the stories of last season, shining for Motherwell after being released by St Johnstone, where he had flopped. He hit 15 goals for the Steelmen and was one of their top players along with Blair Spittal and that saw him linked to Celtic, Rangers and English sides. In the end he moved to France with Auxerre and so far has one goal in six appearances in Ligue 1.
Dylan Vente – Hibs to PEC Zwolle (loan)
Big things were expected of Dylan Vente when Hibs splashed out around £750,000 to sign him after his scoring exploits for Roda JC in the Dutch second tier. Big things didn’t come. He did show early promise but the 25-year-old only found the net eight times for the Easter Road men. He did start well with three in the League Cup groups but as David Gray brought in the likes of Mykola Kuharevic and Kieron Bowie, he moved down the pecking order. Vente was sent back to his homeland with PEC Zwolle and has found the net three times in seven games in the top flight.
Keanu Baccus – St Mirren to Mansfield Town
Eyebrows were raised when Baccus swapped the Premiership for League One down south. It is certainly a path well trodden but he is an Australia international and was previously linked with bigger clubs in Scotland or the English Championship. He is doing fairly well though and has made eight apperances, providing two assists for a side sitting third and in with a shout of going up to the second tier.
Greg Stewart – Kilmarnock to Mohun Bagan
Stewart is a hero in India following spells with Super League sides Jamshedpur and Mumbai City. But it looked like he had returned home to settle back in Scotland when he rejoined Kilmarnock last season. However, the lure of what is likely another big pay day at Mohun Bagun proved too much as he linked up with former Hibs and Dundee striker Jason Cummings. Stewart notched one goal in four games in the Durand Cup and has the exact same goal record in the league so far, with three assists added.
Toby Sibbick – Hearts to Wigan
The defender left Tynecastle in search of more regular first team football after being on the fringes under Steven Naismith last season and being told he would likely feature even less this campaign. Former Hibs boss Shaun Maloney signed him but he hasn’t really had the minutes he was looking for. Sibbick has started just one game in League One, competing 90 minutes against Stevenage, and coming off the bench three times.
Myziane Maolida – Hertha Berlin to Al-Khalood (after Hibs loan)
Hibs would have loved to have kept exciting forward Maolida after he lit up the Premiership after his loan move in January. His wages at the Bundesliga side were always a stumbling block though, despite Bill Foley’s investment, and it was a non-starter. Instead, he headed for Saudi Arabia with Al-Khalood club. So far he has one Pro Leage goal to his name from six games in a side which has struggled for results.
Daniel Phillips – St Johnstone to Stevenage
Another player who starred in the Premiership but opted to move on to England’s League One, after being strongly linked with Hearts. Has been a regular for the promotion chasers and played in all ten games, most of which were starts also.