Having joined the club earlier this week, here is an in-depth look at the career of our latest midfield signing, Kirsten Reilly.
Now with her second spell at Hibernian, Kirsten previously played in green and white between 2018 and 2019. During this stint, she won the SWPL Cup twice, scoring in the 2018 final – with a Scottish Cup also arriving in 2018.
Born in Musselburgh and a Hibee all her life – after a stint in America where she studied at university, Reilly returned to Scotland to play for Edinburgh rivals Hearts in 2017 before signing for Stirling University later that year.
Come 2018 and her time at Hibernian was a paramount success, winning aforementioned trophies under current boss Grant Scott – and finishing second in the 2018/19 SWPL, tasting defeat only once all season, and finishing 3 points from champions Glasgow City. As a result, she helped the team qualify for the 2019//20 Women’s Champions League.
Playing in the qualifying rounds of the 19/20 Champions League for Hibernian, Reilly then moved to the WSL in September 2019, signing for Bristol City and linking up with former Hibee teammate Abi Harrison in the process.
After a year in England – Reilly signed for Rangers in December 2020. Spending a couple of years in Glasgow, she helped the ‘Gers to win their maiden SWPL title in 2021/22, going unbeaten in the same season.
She returned to play in England in 2022, signing for Crystal Palace in the Women’s Championship. She scored her first goal for the club in a Conti-Cup match against Watford and in the 2023/24 season, she played a pivotal role in helping the London club secure promotion to the WSL for the first time, playing in 18 of 22 games.
