Concern over Herrington decision as big clubs watch ‘very closely’
Ex-Socceroos star Tommy Oar has issued a word of caution about Lucas Herrington’s dream Premier League move as the 18-year-old defender prepares for a possible Hull City debut against Manchester United on August 22 (AEST).
Herrington’s five-year deal with newly promoted Hull was confirmed on Thursday (AEST) as the Tigers agreed terms for an Australian football record $33 million transfer from the Colorado Rapids.
Lucas Herrington of Hull City. Hull City
Oar, 34, has joined Stan Sport’s team of football experts after working on the 2026 FIFA World Cup for SBS.
He represented Australia 28 times as an attacking midfielder between 2010-15.
“There are two ways of looking at this,” Oar said on Stan’s Premier League season preview show.
“During the World Cup, he was rumoured to be joining the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich. That was exciting. The biggest clubs in world football were interested in him.”
Those European giants will now monitor Herrington as he tries to shut down some of the world’s greatest strikers.
Hull’s promotion was a major surprise after they finished sixth in the 2025-26 Championship, and then benefited from Southampton being suspended due to a spying scandal.
Bookmakers view them as a near-certainty to be bounced back out of the Premier League this season, with TAB listing them as $1.25 to be relegated.
“I think that it’s exciting on one hand because he’ll get opportunities to play,” former Ipswich Town star Oar said.
“However, he’s going to be exposed. And this is probably a team - we’ve seen teams when they come into the Premier League, and they struggle, stylistically speaking. We know Lucas Herrington, he’s composed, he’s got a big frame, he’s very tidy on the ball.
“That’s not necessarily attributes that’s going to lend itself into their way of playing.”
Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich is one of only two Australians, along with Robbie Slater, to have won a Premier League title.
Craig Foster, Tommy Oar and Mark Bosnich. Stan
Bosnich agreed that Herrington would often be under siege this season.
“But in terms of the big clubs, they still will be watching him very, very closely,” Bosnich said.
“They’ll want to see how he’s able to deal with playing in the Premier League, especially from a physical point of view. He’s only 18 years of age, he’ll be 19 in September.
“They know about his ball playing quality, and I believe that a lot of these big clubs - no-one wants anyone to go down (relegated) - but they won’t be too displeased.
“Because I believe that if Lucas does play like he can play, then they’ll basically turn around, if he goes down and say, ‘well, listen, now we’ll take him, that’s OK.’
“The big clubs, if they want to spend serious money, they’d rather wait and have a look how he deals with it. If you’re Lucas and your agent, I’m sure you’d be saying to each other, ‘look, listen, we’re going to be guaranteed first team football here.’
“If we do go to a big club, no big club can guarantee first team football. (Socceroos coach) Tony Popovic will be also happy with that, but he’s getting there in the Premier League as well.”
Sergej Jakirovic of Hull City reacts. Getty
Bosnich described Hull’s Bosnian boss Sergej Jakirović as “a wonderful young manager.”
Jakirović will have his hands full in his maiden Premier League campaign, but as a former international centre back, will likely provide plenty of hands-on coaching to Herrington.
“They played some really wonderful football (last season),” Bosnich said.
“Whether or not these promoted teams will be able to actually do that in the Premier League? Or will the pressure become too much, that they say, ’look, listen, we’ve just got to play to survive, which will lead to probably not as attractive football.”
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