De Graaf (l) should bring an attacking threat to Hibernian from midfield

Hibernian have signed Edwin de Graaf from NAC Breda on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old Dutch attacking right-sided midfielder captained Breda for four years and has played in the Eridivisie for a decade.

He told the Hibernian website: "I am delighted to be joining a club with such a great set-up and history.

"I had a lot of options but, having seen the training centre, the stadium and having spoken to the manager, I was excited about coming to play here."

And de Graaf, who has been capped five times for the Dutch B team, added: "I'm keen to get settled in Edinburgh and to start training with the boys in July.

"I know how the manager wants our team to play football and it is great to have Europa League football to look forward to at the start of the season."

Edwin is a real gem of a signing, and brings a wealth of footballing experience at the highest level Hibs manager John Hughes

Prior to his stint at Breda where he scored 18 goals in 86 appearances, de Graaf played with Feyenoord, who he joined in 2005 after three seasons at Roosendaal.

However, he struggled to make an impact in Rotterdam and Feyenoord loaned him back to Roosendaal, then ADO Den Haag.

Hibernian manager John Hughes said: "Edwin is a real gem of a signing and brings a wealth of footballing experience at the highest level, having played regularly in the Eredivisie, and in the Uefa Cup over the past couple of seasons.

"He is a powerful box-to-box player, who loves getting forward.

"His physical presence and leadership qualities will be great assets for the team as we look forward to our European campaign and the start of the SPL season."

Hughes recently released midfielders Abdessalam Benjelloun and Patrick Cregg.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version