Hearts player completes transfer to SPFL club as Jambos send message after Gorgie departure
The academy product at Hearts is moving on to pastures new.
Hearts talent Bobby McLuckie has officially left the club following the end of his contract in Gorgie.
The winger who came through the academy structure at Tynecastle has left the Premiership team for Championship outfit Greenock Morton. Aged 19, McLuckie signed his first professional contract with Hearts in 2022 and spent time in Lanarkshire last term, firstly with Hamilton Academical at League One level.
He then joined East Kilbride for the second half of last season and helped Mick Kennedy’s side en-route to League Two title glory. Ian Murray’s Morton now take him on a one-year deal as they prepare for another campaign in the Championship with Hearts sending a message to McLuckie upon his exit.
What player has left Hearts?
A club statement reads: “Bobby McLuckie has agreed to join Greenock Morton on a permanent deal. Bobby signed his first pro contract with Hearts in 2022 and would go on to enjoy loans at Stenhousemuir, Hamilton and E.Kilbride, as well as becoming a B Team regular. Thank you, and good luck Bobby!”
Morton state: “Welcome to Morton, Bobby McLuckie Greenock Morton are delighted to announce the pre-contract signing of 19-year-old winger, Bobby McLuckie. The youngster will officially join the Ton on a one-year deal upon the expiration of his contract with Heart of Midlothian.”
McLuckie was a regular with the Hearts ‘B’ team at Lowland League level and had chances in and around the first team during Steven Naismith’s spell as head coach. The attacker was hopeful of another deal at Hearts after loans last season, telling the Evening News in January: “It’s a big few months ahead for me. I came to East Kilbride at a good time, a team whose going for the league. Hopefully we can win it, get promoted to League One, and fingers crossed that will set me up for something permanent at Hearts.
“We’ll just need to see what the future holds. I’m still in close contact with the guys at Hearts. Every day I'm not in here, I'll be in training at the Oriam, so I still speak to them a lot. “I never really thought about going back there (in January), because although I've played a lot of minutes for the B Team already.
“I thought going back now at my age wouldn't really benefit me. I’d much rather have made the step up to League Two and push to win silverware with an ambitious club than stay at Hearts and not play very often. Of course, my dream is to break into the first-team. Obviously if the moment comes then you've always got to be ready. If that opportunity does arrive then I’ll make sure I’m ready to take it.”