Florian Kamberi: Hibernian sign Swiss striker on loan from Grasshoppers
- Published
Kamberi (left) scored one goal in 15 outings on loan at German side Karlsruhe last season
Hibernian have signed striker Florian Kamberi from Grasshoppers of Zurich on loan until the end of the season, subject to international clearance.
The Switzerland Under-21 international joins Hibs as fellow forward Anthony Stokes leaves the club by mutual consent.
The deal for Kamberi, 22, could become a permanent move in the summer.
"It's a big club for me, a big opportunity and I am very excited to be here," he told Hibs' website., external
"The training ground is very impressive - I didn't have that in Switzerland - and the team is strong. They play football, they don't play the long ball all the time, and for me when I heard about Hibs I knew from the beginning it was a great opportunity for me."
Stokes had enough chances - Lennon
Kamberi has spent two weeks training with Hibs.
"It's good to get another one in the building," said head coach Neil Lennon earlier this week. "He brings a physical presence, he is young, he hasn't had a lot of experience but he has played in Germany [with Karslruhe] and obviously Switzerland," explained Lennon.
"We liked what we saw of him and he will bring a little bit of a different dimension to the way we play going forward.
"He was good enough to come in and train which is always a good sign. It gave us a look at him close up rather than just watching footage of him.
"We can see him interact with the rest of the players and see where he is conditioning-wise and his technique. He has come and backed himself and he is taking a bit of a pay cut as well.
"He wants to play and further his career. He has enjoyed his time here, there is an enthusiasm about him and there are qualities that we like."
Kamberi follows goalkeeper Scott Bain, striker Jamie MacLaren and full-back Faycal Rherras, all on loan, as new arrivals at Easter Road this month.
Along with Stokes, defender Liam Fontaine has been allowed to leave to join Ross County.
Lennon said the club have received no bids for Scotland midfielder John McGinn - a target for Nottingham Forest last summer.
Danny Swanson appears set to stay at Easter Road beyond the end of the window after rejecting a move back to St Johnstone.