Former Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Macey explains that Kieran Tierney helped convince him to make the move to Hibernian FC.

 

After seven years with Arsenal, Matt Macey left the club for Scottish football on Friday, with both teams confirming his permanent transfer on their websites. He was six months from the end of his deal in North London.

As for what convinced him to make the move, Macey says conversations with Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney helped to make up his mind.

“I spoke to Kieran Tierney at length about the opportunity to come to Hibs, about Scottish football and the country in general,” Macey admitted. “Kieran was really positive about every aspect of it, whether it was the club or Edinburgh itself.

“As I said, I was already keen to come but it was good to hear him talk so enthusiastically about it all. He backed up the gut feeling I had.

“Kieran’s someone I have a lot of time for and he’s probably one of the first names on the team-sheet – if not the first – at Arsenal just now.”

It’s always good to have someone with first-hand experience of somewhere you’re thinking about working or moving, and it’s no different for professional footballers. It’s nice that Macey had Tierney to put his mind at ease about the transition.

After making just two senior appearances for Arsenal, Macey will hope this represents a new stage in his career. He should get the chance to play a little more regularly and prove himself as a goalkeeper.

Macey leaves Arsenal with an FA Cup Winner’s Medal, having been part of the squad that defeated Chelsea in August.