Hibernian Football Club has made a stunning statement this summer by breaking their long-standing transfer record with the acquisition of Thibault Klidjé, a 24-year-old striker from Swiss side FC Luzern. This move not only underlines Hibs' ambition but also marks a significant moment in Scottish football, as Klidjé becomes the most expensive signing outside of Celtic and Rangers since 1995.
The Togolese international has signed a three-year contract with an option for Hibs to extend for an additional year. The transfer fee, understood to be over £1 million, shatters the previous club record of approximately £700,000, which was set over two decades ago when Ulises de la Cruz joined the club. This makes Klidjé the first official seven-figure signing by a Scottish club outside the Old Firm since Paul Bernard's move to Aberdeen.
Klidjé's journey to Easter Road has been one of steady progression. Starting his career at Espoir Tsevie in Togo, he moved to Gomido in 2019 before making the leap to Europe with Bordeaux in France's Ligue 1. In 2022, he signed for Luzern, where he spent three seasons honing his skills in the Swiss Super League. During his time there, Klidjé made 76 competitive appearances, netting 16 goals. Last season alone, he contributed 15 goal involvements in 39 matches, scoring 12 times and helping Luzern secure a respectable sixth-place finish.
His international credentials are equally impressive, having earned 18 caps for Togo and scoring twice. This experience on the international stage adds an extra layer of quality to Hibs’ attacking options as they prepare for a challenging season ahead.
Head coach David Gray expressed his enthusiasm about the signing, highlighting the qualities Klidjé brings to the squad. "We're delighted to have attracted someone of Thibault's quality to the Football Club," Gray said. "He adds extra pace and trickery to our front line and performed well for Luzern last season, and at 24 has a lot of room for development. We want to help him progress, and look forward to working with him moving forward."
Sporting Director Malky Mackay also shared his excitement, emphasizing the club's long-term vision and the ambition of the Gordon family, who own the club. "We have been tracking Thibault for a long period of time and are excited to have finally got our man," Mackay stated. "I would firstly like to thank the Gordon Family and our Board for showing this ambition and investment. It's been our aim to continue to add top quality young strikers to our club and we have been given the chance to do that with Thibault. He is a young, driven, ambitious player who importantly wants to come and play for Hibs. We welcome him to Easter Road and look forward to him pulling on the strip."
Klidjé's arrival is the fourth signing of the summer window for Hibs, following goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger, midfielder Josh Mulligan, and playmaker Jamie McGrath. His addition is seen as a key piece in enhancing the attacking depth alongside existing forwards Martin Boyle, Kieron Bowie, and Elie Youan.
Interestingly, Klidjé was at Luzern when Hibs faced the Swiss side in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying rounds two years ago, although he was unable to play due to injury. This history adds a fascinating layer to the transfer, as the player now joins the club that ousted his former team from European competition.
The transfer fee for Klidjé surpasses previous notable purchases by Hibs, including the £700,000 deals for Ulises de la Cruz in 2001 and Dutch striker Dylan Vente two years ago. Notably, Vente was sold last month for a seven-figure sum to Heerenveen, and some of that money has been reinvested to secure Klidjé’s services.
Klidjé's recent form includes a goal scored on July 2, 2025, in a 2-0 friendly win over Xamax during pre-season training with Luzern. However, he was left out of the squad for Luzern's match against Altach as the transfer was finalized.
While Hibs bolster their attacking options, the club is also actively pursuing midfield reinforcements. Nectarios Triantis, last season’s loanee from Sunderland, remains a primary target. However, his future is uncertain as Sunderland's management evaluates their squad plans. Sunderland’s head coach Regis Le Bris commented on July 12, 2025, regarding Triantis and other players: "We'll see for every player. I told them that the first two weeks we are dedicated to connection. After that we'll have to be clear. Some of them need game time but if it's not possible for the squad in the Premier League it's not necessary to stay here. We'll decide early. For Nectar, he had a good season last season. He played well on loan. It's the same for everyone, let's use these two first weeks to understand where they are exactly. Then we will decide for everyone."
Looking ahead, Hibs face a significant test on Thursday, July 24, 2025, when they travel to Denmark to take on FC Midtjylland in the first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie. The addition of Klidjé and other new signings aims to strengthen the squad for this European challenge and the domestic campaign.
In summary, Thibault Klidjé's record-breaking transfer to Hibernian signals a bold new chapter for the club. With his proven goal-scoring ability, international experience, and youthful potential, Klidjé is poised to add a new dimension to Hibs' attack. Supported by ambitious ownership and a clear sporting vision, Hibernian look ready to make their mark in both Scottish football and European competition this season.
