Hearts player completes loan exit to SPFL club as he make step up after impressive season
The Hearts player is making a step up after impressing last season.
Liam McFarlane has left Hearts to join Championship side Partick Thistle on a season-long loan deal.
The goalkeeper signed a new deal at Tynecastle until 2028 last summer and spent time recently as Scotland’s training goalkeeper at the World Cup. McFarlane impressed in previous loans at East Fife and most recently Alloa Athletic, now making the step up to Championship level, with Mark Wilson’s side having their eyes on promotion to Premiership football.
Josh Clarke recently departed the Jags for Doncaster Rovers and his exit opened up a shot-stopping vacancy in Maryhill. Boss Mark Wilson has been impressed by the goalkeeper’s work and believes it’s a deal that suits all parties. Hearts have Alexander Schwolow, Ryan Fulton and Zander Clark as senior options available to head coach Wouter Vrancken while they are in talks over a deal for Dutch shot-stopper Beau Reus.
Why have Partick Thistle signed Liam McFarlane?
Wilson said: “We’re delighted to add Liam to our squad for this season. He’s a strong young keeper who has built up a good level of experience both out on loan and around the Scotland set-up. It’s a competitive area but he ticks all the boxes for what we’re looking for in a goalkeeper, so he’ll definitely be coming in to challenge for the number one spot.”
A Partick Thistle statement reads: “Goalkeeper Liam McFarlane has joined the club on loan from Heart of Midlothian until the end of the season, subject to SFA clearance. A prominent feature of Hearts B since their inaugural Lowland League campaign in 2022, the 21 year old shot-stopper spent 24/25 at East Fife, where he made 39 appearances in their promotion winning season, picking up their Young Player of the year award in the process.
“A Scotland youth international, Liam spent the entirety of last season on loan to Alloa Athletic, clocking 29 appearances and 10 clean sheets through the Wasps’ latest league one campaign. With caps for Scotland at under 21 level, McFarlane most recently joined up to train with the senior squad through their World Cup preparations before going on to travel with the side to America as their training goalkeeper.”
Hearts on sending Liam McFarlane to Partick Thistle
A Hearts statement adds: “Liam McFarlane has joined Partick Thistle on loan for season 26/27 subject to Scottish FA approval. The stopper, who is fresh off the back of a brilliant experience at the World Cup, working as a training goalkeeper with Scotland, kicked on again last season, while on loan at Alloa Athletic.
“The 21-year-old who previously gained valuable minutes in the Lowland League with the Hearts B team, joined East Fife for season 23/24, featuring 39 times as the team won promotion to League One via the playoffs. Liam enjoyed a further 39 games last campaign, this time at the Recs and while another playoff journey followed, this time it wasn’t to be, as Alloa lost out to Stenhousemuir in the playoff final. McFarlane now makes a further step up and joins Championship promotion hopefuls, Partick Thistle as the Jags look to return to the top flight of Scottish football.”