Herbie Kane scouting report as midfielder joins Huddersfield Town

Already very familiar to Michael Duff, Kane is Town's third signing of the summer

Huddersfield Town have announced the signing of free agent Herbie Kane following his departure from Barnsley.

The midfielder was a key player for Michael Duff in Barnsley’s 2022/23 push to the play-off final but opted to depart Oakwell after his contract expired at the end of June.

Kane has signed a three-year deal at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Huddersfield Town coach Duff said in a club statement: “Herbie is a player and person I obviously know very well, so I have real confidence and belief in his ability to make a difference for us across the entire season to come. That said, I’m really pleased he’s decided to join us here at Town this summer.

“An honest player and hard worker for definite, he also has a flair in his play that’s needed in midfield to unlock defences, pick passes and get the side moving up the pitch, and I feel that his skillset will blend really well with the players we already have available to us in that area of the team.”

Sporting director Mark Cartwright added: “We’re really pleased that Herbie has chosen to join us this summer, with his excitement at the project ahead evident from the first time we spoke. Creativity in midfield was an area we had some focus on this summer, and he is a player who will definitely bring something new to us in that respect.

“Still just 25 years old, Herbie has a great track record at this level, but also has the ambition to play and test himself higher, which we obviously share. Signing a three-year deal as he enters his prime, we’re confident that he will have everything he needs to get even better as a Huddersfield Town player.”

Kane said: “I couldn’t be happier to be joining Huddersfield Town at such an exciting time, and I’m really looking forward to the season ahead. Soon after learning of the interested and speaking to the sporting director and head coach, I knew this is where I wanted to be.

“Working with Michael Duff again is obviously a huge appeal, but having visited the training ground and stadium before signing and learned more about the ambition here, that has its own attraction and you get a good feeling about this being a Club to commit to.

“My job now is to work really hard alongside my new teammates in pre-season and do whatever I can once the season starts to ensure we get off to a great start and keep that momentum up across what is always a tough division.”

Kane is Town’s third signing of the summer after wing-backs Lasse Sorensen, from Lincoln City for an undisclosed fee, and Mickel Miller, who turned down a contract renewal offer from Championship side Plymouth Argyle to join Town on a Bosman.

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Herbie Kane career to date

Kane came through the academy at Liverpool but left having made just two first team appearances — both in the League Cup.

After loan spells at Doncaster Rovers and Hull City, in 2020 the midfielder moved to Barnsley for a reported fee of £1.25 million.

Following a season in and out of the Tykes side and a year on loan to League One Oxford United (where he racked up six assists), Kane truly established himself at Barnsley following their relegation to League One — and Michael Duff's arrival — for the 2022/23 campaign.

He quickly became an important player as they reached the play-off final that season, registering three goals and seven assists. He built on this record last season with nine goals (including four penalties) and five assists, as Barnsley secured another top six finish.

The 25 year old was available as a free agent this summer after choosing to leave Oakwell, and had been strongly linked with a move to newly-promoted Derby County before arriving at Town.

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Herbie Kane scouting report

Long-term podcast listeners will know we have repeatedly lamented Town’s lack of a ball-playing number eight: a player with technical quality who plays between the thirds and is capable of delivering a killer final pass.

Well, good news for everyone: we can shut up about that now, because that’s what Kane will bring to Town’s midfield.