Jacob Devaney shines on Hibernian debut
The Manchester United and Ireland midfielder has started his second professional loan spell
Jacob Devaney was so good at St Mirren last season that going back to Manchester United's academy football was never really an option this year, so another loan was always the plan.
He's now joined Hibernian on loan for the 2026/27 season, off the back of an eye-catching pre-season with United.
He's due back next summer, having signed a new contract before going out on loan, at which point he'll be assessed for a possible first-team role at Old Trafford.
This weekend gave him about as good a start as he could have hoped for at Hibs, and United will be pleased with what they saw.
How Jacob Devaney got on for his Hibernian debut
Devaney started for Hibs in a 2-1 win over Dundee, and the way he played suggests he won't be out of the side for a while.
The 19-year-old settled in straight away and dominated the midfield, looking a cut above everyone else on the pitch.
- 81 minutes
- 75 touches
- 67/71 passes completed (94%)
- 2 key passes
- 3 defensive contributions
- 1 tackle won
- 3/5 duels won
- 4 recoveries
You could see just how much Hibs needed him on the pitch — a minute after he was substituted in the 81st, Dundee pulled a goal back.
The Irish youth international is off to a flyer, and if he keeps this level up over a full season, he'll have a real chance of forcing his way into Michael Carrick's first-team plans.
Failing that, a Premier League loan looks almost inevitable if he keeps making the Scottish Premiership look this easy, just as he did at St Mirren.
Devaney will be a big talking point for United next summer
There's no doubting Devaney's quality, and by the time he's back at United next summer, there'll be plenty of noise around him.
Carrick will want to weigh up where he fits into the squad, but if regular minutes aren't on offer, he'll be a wanted man elsewhere.
He already had interest from clubs across Europe this summer, and that's only going to grow if this season goes the way it looks like it will.
A £20-30 million price tag next summer wouldn't be a shock — not that United should be selling — but it shows just how highly rated he is, and why this season could turn Devaney into a genuine star.
Definitely one to keep tabs on as the season goes on.
