Anthony McDonald leaves Hearts to sign permanent deal with Spanish side Cordoba

Midfielder joins Andalusian side

Anthony McDonald has joined Cordoba on a two-year deal

Anthony McDonald has departed Hearts and has signed a permanent deal with Spanish outfit Cordoba.

The 19-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Andalusia-based club who currently play in the country’s third tier, the Segunda Division B.

McDonald could make his debut in Cordoba's league opener on October 18 when they host Lorca Deportiva at the Nuevo Arcángel.

Los Blanquiverdes have mostly competed in the Segunda Division, spending 31 seasons in Spain’s second tier, but were relegated at the end of the 2018/19 season.

They won the second-tier title in 1961/62, sparking a seven-year stint in La Liga, and added two league wins in the third tier in 1994/95 and 1996/97.

Cordoba are currently managed by former Atletico Madrid and Real Betis forward Juan Sabas. Among the club's notable former players are ex-Spain and Real Madrid boss Vicente del Bosque; former Rangers striker Oleg Salenko, and former Arsenal and Cameroon midfielder Lauren.

McDonald made his Hearts debut as a 16-year-old in December 2017 in a 2-0 win against Dundee, setting up both goals.

Craig Levein, who handed him his debut, admitted he had been “surprised” at the teenager’s impact.

He made 25 appearances in total for Hearts, as well as spending time on loan at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Dunfermline Athletic.

Hearts issued a statement confirming the transfer, adding: “The club wishes Anthony well in the next chapter of his career.”

McDonald is the 12th player to leave Hearts on a permanent basis in the summer transfer window.