Hibs and Kieron Bowie had no option with Verona move: early start, babysitter search and Celtic-Rangers link

Less than 24 hours earlier, Bowie was playing darts with his Hibs team-mates at the club’s training centre. Even as the day drew to a close, the striker was at HTC preparing for Sunday’s Premiership match against Rangers. But then the news came – Hellas Verona had reached Hibs’ valuation. The green light was given for his move to Serie A.

Bowie’s move was officially confirmed by both parties at 6.45pm on Friday. He met Verona representatives in Milan to finalise his contract and conduct medical examinations. Verona play Cagliari on Saturday night in an important league fixture and his new club are trying to register him in time for that game.

If not, the Italians will be happy enough to wait one more match. After all, they have spent close to £7 million on Bowie once add-ons are factored in, shattering the Hibs record sale of £4.4m that has sat since 2007 after Scott Brown moved to Celtic.

Managed by Paolo Zanetti, Verona are joint-bottom of Serie A. They are four points away from safety and on a seven-match winless run. Bowie’s short-term mission is simple: fire his team up the standings.

Verona have done business with Hibs before. Back in 2022, they spent nearly £3m on defender Josh Doig. He left Verona for Sassuolo two years ago and made them a £2m profit. This time, the Italians are signing a far more established player, a Scotland international with a desire to be on the plane for the World Cup, a striker who had more than just I Gialloblù eyeing him up.

Hibs were not actively looking to sell Bowie this window, nor was the player agitating for a move. The 23-year-old was enjoying being back in Scotland after leaving for England as a teenager in 2020. Him and his partner Brooke moved back to their hometown of Kirkcaldy 18 months ago with twin daughters Victoria and Florence, who are two-and-a-half. “We were constantly parenting,” Bowie said last year of having grandparents on tap, “so now we can sort of have nights to ourselves. So it's good to get a bit of a break sometimes.”

Celtic and Rangers’ interest

Bowie was also enjoying life at Hibs, even if this season hasn’t been as fruitful as last for the team. Currently fifth in the Premiership and out of the Scottish Cup, there’s a feeling of what could have been for the Easter Road side. Bowie has scored nine goals in 30 appearances, a couple of those absolute stunners that would have caught the attention of suitors. His long-range wonder-goal against Partizan Belgrade will live long in the memory.

Celtic and Rangers both asked to be notified of developments during the transfer window given both Old Firm sides are in the market for a No 9, but Hibs owner Ian Gordon was never keen to do business with a direct rival. They were also aware of growing interest from Serie A. Italian clubs like the Scottish marketplace. The success stories of Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Lewis Ferguson and Aaron Hickey (Bologna), Che Adams (Torino), Josh Doig (Verona, Sassuolo) and Liam Henderson (Bari, Verona, Empoli, Lecce, Palermo, Sampdoria) all help. The most recent purchase, Lennon Miller of Udinese, is also starting to establish himself.

Hibs paid Fulham £600,000 for Bowie 18 months ago and while a chunk of the season was blighted by a torn hamstring, he returned to help Hibs finish third in the Premiership. He became a full Scotland internationalist last year and has two caps to his name. He was a regular fixture in Steve Clarke’s squad until the last international window when a mini-drought at Hibs cost him his place to Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland.

Bowie can fire himself into World Cup contention with strong showings in the second half of the season. Naturally, Clarke is an avid Serie A viewer. He is vying with Adams, Lawrence Shankland, Lyndon Dykes (Charlton), George Hirst (Ipswich) and Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough). Proving he can play at an exalted level could make all the difference.

“Italy appeals now,” Bowie said on Friday morning at the airport. “A lot of people from Scotland have gone there, and done well. It opens up a lot of opportunities for myself and my family.” He will significantly enhance his pay packet and no matter what happens in Verona – a lovely part of the world to reside in – Bowie’s stock will remain high back in Scotland. This is an opportunity he cannot refuse.

And neither can Hibs. Some will argue they could have waited six months, that he could have fired them into Europe and become a World Cup striker in their colours, adding millions to his valuation. But on the flipside, his form could have dropped off in a struggling team, he could have picked up an injury and become a depreciating asset. Hibs have cashed in at a good time. Some fans will tell you he’s not even a £7m player ...

What Bowie has is a thunderous left foot, pace, a physical presence and a thirst to learn. Sure, there are rough edges that need to be sanded, and the different coaching he will get in Italy may well make him a more polished individual. Verona have paid for his potential as much as his current ability. Scotland fans should monitor his progress with interest, as he is the nation’s brightest striking prospect.

For Hibs, the departure of Bowie leaves a sizeable void. They already needed fresh faces before Verona broke cover – now head coach David Gray will have significant funds to play with, even once Fulham are paid their sell-on fee in the region of 20 per cent.

Spurs striker Dane Scarlett came on Friday evening and Hibs’ next few days will be busy before Monday’s transfer deadline after a slow start to the window. They will keep looking for reinforcements. Bowie, meanwhile, will need to look for a new babysitter.