The striker is a target of Hibs after earning rave reviews at his current club.
He’s been watched by European royalty - but now it’s Hibs who could offer Owen Elding his next footballing step.
The 19-year-old striker netted 16 times with five assists during a breakout season in the League of Ireland for Sligo Rovers last year, fulfilling the high hopes many have had for him. Edinburgh Evening News intel is that Hibs are definitely pursuing Elding amid reports in Ireland that the the clubs have already agreed terms on a six-figure fee for the teenager.
He would be Hibs’ first signing this winter transfer window and he comes with a big reputation. Just last summer, Juventus were leading the clutch of UK and European clubs looking at Elding as form surged in Ireland. Austrian side Sturm Graz are said to have invited Elding to their inner sanctum in November as they went a step further in trying to recruit him but the forward may be bound for Hibs instead.
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Who is Owen Elding?
John Russell has been boss at Sligo since 2022 and has overseen his rise from top prospect to key striker, and claims leadership skills have also come naturally to the talisman. He told the Irish Times in July last year: “We know he’s got talent but he’s orchestrating things. He’s making demands of players, his work-rate off the ball is top class. Once he’s in the team you’ve a chance of winning matches.”
Having tied him to a three-year deal at the Showground, Sligo chairman Tommy Higgins had a simple assessment with Elding’s dad in mind, former English lower league marksman Anthony Elding. He said: “Owen has been a natural goalscorer all his life. He scored 27 goals for the under-14s in our academy. A modest lad, he has the temperament too.”
Russell has also been a big fan of the forward. Speaking when Elding was just 17, he predicted big things for him, and now they could be spotted at Hibs in the not too distant future. The Sligo boss said: “I’ve known him since then (he first joined) when I was Regional Development Officer, he was always a player with huge potential who stood out.
What are Owen Elding’s strengths?
“He has progressed all the way through, he made his debut last season and played a couple of matches, he’s only 17. People forget that. What I really like about him is his attitude to everything and how he conducts himself around the place, in training, and he’s a goalscorer, they’re so hard to find.
“All the way up through the underage teams he’s proven that he can put the ball in the net. He’s shown that ability to finish when we are in training and any of the in house games or friendlies, he gets himself in good positions.
“He is stepping up now, it is the Premier Division, you come up against strong centre-backs, quicker players than he would have faced at underage level. We feel at 17 there is loads to come from him, I am confident that myself and the staff can develop him as a player.”
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