How Yu Hirakawa feels about leaving Bristol City for Hull City | OneFootball

Yu Hirakawa was instrumental in Hull City's win in the play-off final, and has left the door open for a permanent move as the Premier League looms

Eyebrows can often be raised when a player goes on loan between two sides in the same division, but Yu Hirakawa's January move from Bristol City to Hull City paid dividends for the Tigers.

The one-time Japanese international made the switch from Ashton Gate to the MKM Stadium, following an opening half to the season which saw him make just three Championship starts for the Robins under Gerhard Struber.

At Hull, Hirakawa's time on the pitch was limited, too, but that was due in part to an ankle injury that he picked up in late February that Sergej Jakirovic stated at the time was going to see him miss the rest of the season.

Fortunately enough, the 25-year-old made his return in mid-April and played a key role off the bench in the play-off final win over Middlesbrough, as it was his cross that Sol Brynn parried into the path of Oli McBurnie to score the goal that sent Hull into the Premier League for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign.

Yu Hirakawa opens up on his future following Hull City play-off success

As it stands, Hirakawa will be returning to Ashton Gate in the summer, where his future lies uncertain, as Bristol City still await the announcement of their new manager for the 2026/27 campaign.

The 25-year-old is still under contract with his parent club until 2028, after signing there permanently last February following a successful first half of the season on loan from J-League outfit Machida Zelvia.

But, with his loan club now set to play their trade in the Premier League, Hirakawa is understandably open to making a permanent move to the MKM Stadium this summer.

"Yes, I think that I agree with your opinion," Hirakawa told Hull Live when asked if the play-off final win over Middlesbrough made him want to sign permanently with Hull this summer.

"I wanted to assist more and score more goals, but I was injured, so I couldn't achieve it. In the final, I was able to make an assist for Oli McBurnie and contribute to the team. I'm so happy."

It's been a difficult second season in England for Hirakawa, playing under 800 league minutes throughout the campaign at Bristol City and Hull due to selection and injury, but it ended with him playing a key part in one of the biggest moments of the season.

Now, all eyes will be on what happens this summer, and whether the 25-year-old will be a Premier League player come mid-August.

Hull City's Premier League status may impact Yu Hirakawa's future at the club

Hirakawa is a clear fan favourite among Hull supporters, more so now due to his contributions in the victory over Middlesbrough.

However, it's an unfortunate reality of getting promoted that sentiment cannot get in the way, and ruthless decisions have to be made to give the club the best chance possible in ensuring their Premier League stay lasts longer than a single season.

Plenty of popular promotion heroes at Sunderland and Leeds United saw their gametime decrease exponentially this season, or even to the point where they were sold or loaned out throughout the campaign.

The same will likely have to happen at Hull this summer if they are to make a fist of Premier League survival, and with only five league starts this past season in the second tier, it's hard to see where Hirakawa would fit in a top-flight squad at the MKM Stadium next year.

With the Tigers likely needing to part ways with a fee to bring the Japanese wideman to the club permanently, they may decide that their money is better spent elsewhere.

But, regardless of whether Hirakawa remains at Hull or not, his impact in their promotion-winning match will have put him in the annals at the MKM Stadium, as the Tigers completed one of the biggest underdog seasons in Championship history.