Hearts seal fourth transfer for versatile 24y/o as talks continue with key targets

McEntee joins from English League Two side Walsall and is the club’s fourth summer signing after the arrival of right-back Christian Borchgrevink, winger Alexandros Kyziridis and striker Elton Kabangu, who has made last season’s loan move a permanent arrangement.

McEntee, aged 24, is a Republic of Ireland Under-21 internationalist who has prior experience of Scottish football, having played on loan at Morton during the 2021/22 campaign. He ends a three-year association with Walsall, with his last match for them being Monday’s play-off defeat by AFC Wimbledon at Wembley.

Standing at 6ft 3in tall, McEntee is known as a tough-tackling defensive midfielder, but he can also play a centre-half and right-back. He has agreed a three-year contract with Hearts, who do not have to pay a transfer fee for his services.

Hearts are continuing to work on a deal for FC Tobol winger Islam Chesnokov. The Kazakhstan internationalist has been a long-term target for the club for some time and talks with all parties are understood to be progressing. McInnes also wants to bring in another striker as discussions continue with current No 9 Lawrence Shankland, who becomes a free agent tomorrow upon expiry of his current contract.

McEntee ‘hungry to improve’ at Hearts

On signing McEntee, McInnes told the Hearts website: “It’s great that we’ve been able to get this deal done and we can now welcome Oisin to the club. It became clear in our conversations that Oisin is hungry, he wants to learn and improve, and he wants to be part of what we’re trying to do here at Hearts.

“He’s a ball player whilst being physically imposing, and an extremely versatile player. He’s played in defence and midfield, so to have options around his positioning is a big plus. Oisin’s gained a lot of experience down south and he has knowledge of Scottish football too, which is a bonus, and I’m sure he’ll fit in well to the squad we’re building.”