18th June 2001
De La Cruz is a Hibee!
Ulisse signs on a four-year deal
(Stuart Crowther)

ULISSE DE LA CRUZ WAS THIS MORNING finally unveiled has Hibernian's record signing at around £700,000, the 27-year-old Ecuador international signing a four-year deal.

De La Cruz, flanked by a delighted Hibs boss Alex McLeish and the players agent Eric Manasse, looked slightly nervous - likely due to the fact he speaks no English - but was full of smiles when McLeish joked: "We have now completed negotiations and Ulisse has passed his audition in the bar with flying colours!"

Welcome fellow Hibee- De La Cruz has signed (sns)

McLeish introduced the new signing to a busy press room at Easter Road, saying: "I am pleased to introduce our latest signing Ulisse de la Cruz, an Ecuadorian international and a very exciting player.  This is a very bold move by the club, and I am looking forward to working with Ulisse and hopefully we can take the club another step forward by signing such as Ulisse."  

Hibs completed negotiations with the player and his club representative over the weekend, and confirmed today that the length of contract signed by De La Cruz is to be four years.  And it was revealed that Hibernian beat off interest from 3 other top European clubs from France and Italy to secure the services of a player who has been capped 42 times for his country.  

A full report and exclusive pictures will be published on Hibs.net this evening.