Hull City midfielder Xavier Simons is attracting transfer interest from Europe-bound Hibernian, with the 22-year-old expected to leave the MKM Stadium this summer.
The Scottish Premiership side have submitted a formal bid as uncertainty continues to hang over Hull’s playing squad following managerial changes.
Simons loaned out last season
Despite making 20 appearances for the Tigers in the Championship during the 2024/25 campaign, Simons found opportunities limited in the second half of the season and dropped out of the club’s long-term plans. With Hull gearing up to announce Sergej Jakirovic as their new manager, the former Chelsea academy product is among those cleared to move on.
Last season, he spent time on loan with Wycombe Wanderers in League One. He started 12 matches for the Adams Park outfit, appearing 16 times in total, including both legs of their play-off semi-final defeat.
The bid from Hibernian comes at a timely moment for Simons, who is seeking regular football and the opportunity to reignite his career. The Scottish side’s place in next season’s Europa League qualifying rounds only adds to the appeal, with manager David Gray keen to strengthen his midfield options before their European campaign kicks off.
Simons’ stats from last season reveal a player with solid underlying metrics—an 86.6% pass accuracy, 59 recoveries, and over 1,200 minutes of Championship experience—but one who hasn’t cemented a place in the starting XI.
A number of Championship clubs are also believed to be monitoring the situation, but Hull are prepared to sanction a move, particularly with the midfielder entering the final stages of his current deal. After a turbulent season that saw Ruben Selles dismissed and the club survive relegation by the skin of their teeth, owner Acun Ilicali is keen to back his new manager with both fresh signings and a reshaped squad.
Writer’s View
This is a sensible move for all parties. Xavier Simons is clearly a player with talent, but he hasn’t found the consistency or role to thrive at Hull City. With another managerial change and an urgent need to stabilise, a clean break seems wise.
For Hull, shifting players who aren’t central to the club’s future gives Jakirovic room to bring in more tactically suitable options. For Simons, the chance to play in Europe and work under a new coaching environment at Hibernian could be the spark his career needs. If he excels north of the border, the Tigers may yet regret not unlocking his potential themselves.
