Manchester United teenager Jacob Devaney has joined Scottish Premiership side Hibernian on loan, with the Edinburgh club retaining the option to convert the temporary deal into a permanent transfer. The 19-year-old midfielder moves to Easter Road after spending the second half of the previous season on loan at St Mirren, where he gained valuable top-flight experience in Scotland.
Born on 11 June 2007, Devaney featured 18 times for the Paisley club during his earlier loan spell, which began on 2 February 2026. He made his St Mirren debut in a 1-0 victory over Hearts on 3 February 2026 and went on to score once and provide one assist for the club. His appearances included a Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic at Hampden Park.
The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international operated as a deep-lying playmaker during his time at St Mirren. Before his loan move north of the border, Devaney served as captain of Manchester United's Premier League 2 side for the opening months of the season. He also featured in pre-season action for United in July, appearing against Wrexham and Rosenborg, and scored in the latter fixture.
According to earlier reporting, Devaney stated this summer that his primary objective was to secure first-team football at Manchester United, though he acknowledged that a loan spell might be necessary to gain additional experience. Hibernian were already in advanced talks for the midfielder on 21 August, before the move was finalised.
Why Hibernian moved for Devaney
Hibernian head coach David Gray expressed enthusiasm about the signing, stating:
He's a technically talented young international footballer who is keen to learn and develop. To have him join before the end of the window is really positive and we'll look to get him settled in as quickly as possible.
Easter Road sporting director Malky Mackay highlighted the competitive nature of the recruitment process, telling club media:
He's a young player with an excellent background and, importantly, he already has experience of playing in the Scottish Premiership. It's an exciting opportunity for Jacob and for the club, and we're really looking forward to seeing what he can bring to Hibs.
According to Manchester United's announcement, there was significant interest in Devaney from multiple clubs, underscoring the midfielder's potential despite his age.
Devaney's development pathway
The midfielder's loan to St Mirren in February 2026 was designed to provide him with senior-level experience after impressing for Manchester United's Under-21 side. That spell proved valuable in preparing him for the next stage of his career, giving him exposure to competitive Scottish Premiership football before his move to Hibernian.
