Christie joins Tigers on free transfer ahead of clash with boyhood club
EXPERIENCE: New right-back Cyrus Christie. Picture by Hull City
By Simon Bristow
Hull City have signed “vastly experienced” attacking right-back Cyrus Christie on a free transfer.
The 29-year-old has joined the Tigers on a two-year-deal, with the club holding the option of an extra year, and has been allocated the number 33 shirt.
Beginning his career at his boyhood club Coventry City - who the Tigers play on Saturday - Christie is vastly experienced in the Championship, Hull City said, making over 250 appearances in the second tier.
Making 119 appearances for Coventry City, as well as spending time on loan at Conference North sides Nuneaton Town and Hinckley United, the right-back joined Derby County in July 2014 on a three-year deal.
Claiming an assist on his debut, a 1-0 victory over Rotherham United, Christie made 119 appearances for Derby over three seasons before moving to Middlesbrough.
Featuring 26 times for Boro over six months, scoring his only goal in a 1-1 draw against Fulham, Christie made the move to the Cottagers for an undisclosed fee.
TWO-YEAR DEAL: Cyrus Christie at the MKM Stadium. Picture by Hull City
Winning promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in the same campaign, Christie made 28 appearances in his debut season in England’s top flight.
Fulham were relegated after just one season, but Christie helped the Cottagers bounce straight back to the Premier League the following season as they won promotion via the play-offs, a campaign in which he made 30 appearances in all competitions.
At the beginning of the 2020/21 season, the defender joined Nottingham Forest on loan and made 44 appearances, registering five assists.
In January 2022, Christie spent the rest of the season on loan at Swansea City, scoring three goals and being credited with five assists in 23 games.
Internationally, he has represented the Republic of Ireland 30 times, first making his debut in November 2014 against USA before scoring his first international goal in his second cap, a 4-0 victory over Gibraltar in the European Qualifiers.