Rabbi Matondo Joins Hibernian in Search of a Fresh Start
Rabbi Matondo’s career has reached another turning point. The Welsh winger, once viewed as one of Schalke 04’s most exciting young prospects, has signed for Hibernian Edinburgh until next summer after leaving Norwegian club SK Brann Bergen. The move gives the 26-year-old a chance to rebuild his momentum in Scottish football—and gives Hibs a potentially valuable injection of pace and attacking threat.
Matondo had been without a club for around six weeks following his departure from Brann, where his time was brief and limited to just 30 minutes of first-team football. Hibernian confirmed the signing on Thursday. The Edinburgh side were sitting 10th in the 12-team Scottish Premiership, making the arrival of an experienced winger a timely opportunity to strengthen their options.
“I am very pleased to welcome Rabbi to Hibernian FC,” head coach Marink Reedijk said. He described Matondo as a player who offers “pace, directness and a goal threat out wide,” adding that his personality could also make a positive contribution to the dressing room.
A Chance to Reignite His Football Career
For Matondo, the move is about more than finding a new employer. It is an opportunity to turn a career marked by high expectations, injuries and unsettled spells into a more consistent story. Hibernian will hope he can bring urgency to their attack, while the winger will be looking for regular minutes and a stable environment in which to show what he can do.
His speed has long been one of his most notable qualities. A direct wide player, Matondo is capable of stretching a defence, carrying the ball into dangerous areas and creating chances through quick transitions. Those attributes could suit a Scottish Premiership campaign in which physical contests, rapid counterattacks and strong home support often shape matches. The key question is whether he can stay fit and turn flashes of promise into dependable performances.
Any prediction about his impact should be cautious. His previous spells have shown that talent alone does not guarantee a regular role, particularly when injuries and limited playing time interrupt a player’s rhythm. Still, Hibs are signing a footballer with experience in several leagues and the potential to offer something different in the final third.
Schalke’s Nine-Million-Euro Gamble
Matondo first attracted major attention in January 2019, when Schalke paid Manchester City a reported nine million euros to bring him to Germany. At just 18, he was regarded as one of the promising young players in City’s system. His contract reportedly included a buy-back clause worth 50 million euros, underlining how highly his potential was viewed at the time.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had not given the teenager a clear route into the first team. Guardiola said the club believed in developing young players, but also noted that prospects needed patience. Matondo chose to leave in search of senior opportunities, and Schalke moved quickly to secure his signature.
He made his debut for the Royal Blues only days after arriving. However, the immediate breakthrough the club wanted did not follow. Although he made several appearances during the remainder of the season, he did not register a goal or assist. Schalke had invested in his speed and attacking promise, but his first months in Germany offered little time to settle or build confidence.
Controversies That Overshadowed His Performances
Matondo’s name later appeared in headlines for reasons unrelated to football. After the season ended, reports claimed that he had refused to fasten his seatbelt during a flight from Faro, Portugal, to Bristol and had insulted a flight attendant. He was reportedly taken away for questioning after the plane landed. Matondo denied the allegations, and the incident became part of the public narrative surrounding his early career.
Another episode caused frustration among Schalke supporters the following season. A photograph emerged showing Matondo training in a Borussia Dortmund shirt bearing the name of Jadon Sancho, a former teammate and close friend from their Manchester City youth days. Because Dortmund are Schalke’s fierce rivals, the image provoked an angry reaction from fans.
Then-sporting director Jochen Schneider said he had made his displeasure clear to Matondo. The winger later explained that the shirt was connected to his friendship with Sancho, not intended as a gesture of support for Dortmund. He said the two players had remained in regular contact and described Sancho as one of his best friends. The explanation did little to prevent the image from becoming a lasting talking point among supporters.
Injuries and Short Spells Across Europe
Matondo did show signs of improvement on the pitch, scoring twice in 21 appearances for Schalke during the 2019–20 season. But his time in Gelsenkirchen remained inconsistent. He made three further appearances in the first half of the following campaign before leaving on loan, first to Stoke City and then to Belgian side Cercle Brugge.
In 2022, he moved to Glasgow Rangers for a reported three million euros, a year before his Schalke contract was due to expire. The transfer offered a return to Scotland and a chance to establish himself at one of the country’s biggest clubs. Persistent injury problems, however, limited his ability to become more than a squad option. A later loan spell at Hannover 96 brought him back to Germany, but did not provide a lasting reset.
Rangers eventually allowed Matondo to leave on a free transfer. His subsequent move to Brann Bergen failed to develop, with only half an hour of playing time before the relationship ended. After several weeks without a club, Hibernian have now offered him a new route forward.
What Hibernian Need From Matondo
Hibs will not expect one signing to solve every problem, but Matondo’s profile gives Reedijk an additional attacking option. If he can stay available, use his pace effectively and contribute goals or assists, he could become an important part of the team’s push to improve its league position. His ability to attack space may also help Hibernian when opponents press high or leave room behind their defence.
The move is therefore a low-risk opportunity with potential upside for both sides. Hibernian gain a winger with experience in England, Germany, Belgium and Scotland; Matondo gets a chance to prove that his best football is still ahead of him. His earlier promise at Schalke may feel distant, but a settled spell in Edinburgh could give him the platform to rebuild his reputation—one performance at a time.
