Celtic offload Riordan to Hibs

Hibernian have announced the signing of Celtic forward Derek Riordan on a three-year contract.

Hibs won the race with Edinburgh rivals Hearts for Riordan's signature after both clubs expressed an interest in the player.

Riordan spent six years at Hibs, making his professional debut in 2001 and going on to finish as the club’s top scorer for three straight seasons until 2005.

His exploits that year earned him the Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year award and his first and only Scotland cap.

He refused to extend a contract that was set to expire in October 2006, also snubbing moves to foreign clubs.

Hibs were eventually forced to sell him to Celtic for a cut-price £170,000 in June 2006 after he signed a pre-contract agreement with the Glasgow giants.

But Riordan failed to earn a regular first-team place and publicly vented his frustration earlier this year.