Hearts sanction transfer exit as two Jambos stars help decide next move for 'energetic player'
The midfielder has left the club to join a Premiership rival.
Hearts have confirmed the exit of midfielder Macaulay Tait to Premiership side St Johnstone.
The club academy product made his debut in a win at Celtic during December 2023 and went on to make 16 Jambos appearances. He has spent much of the last 18 months at Livingston, playing across Championship and top flight levels, and has been with Wouter Vrancken’s side in pre-season.
Tait now moves to Simo Valakari’s team who won the second tier last season. Hearts snapped up summer signing Josh McPake from the McDiarmid Park side and right-back Adam Forrester spent last term on loan in Perth. Both players, alongside ex-Jambo and St Johnstone skipper Jason Holt, helped convince Tait that Perthshire was correct for him.
Why has Macaulay Tait left Hearts?
He said: “I’m really excited to get started and to meet all of the boys properly. How much the club and the gaffer wanted me was a great start to all of this. I watched the team play a lot of the Friday night games last season and know a couple of players – Josh McPake and Adam Forrester – who have been here in the past. They spoke so highly of the place.
“I felt it was the right place to continue my journey. The club has momentum coming into the top-flight, and it seems a really positive place to be. The boys play good football and I’ll just be looking to come in and add to that. I have been at Hearts for a while and came through the academy, playing 16 times for the first team. That was nice for myself and my family.
“I took the step on loan to Livingston for the past 18 months and I can’t thank them enough for progressing my career. Now I’m looking to make a real impact at Saints. I’ll be hard-working and run for this team as much as I can. Hopefully I can bring quality on the ball and give the attacking players the service to do their stuff. I’m happy to do the dirty work.
Who helped sell Macaulay Tait on St Johnstone?
“Everyone has welcomed me in. As I said, I really do feel wanted. It seems like a really good group and now I just want to get out on the pitch. I got to know Holty quite well in recent years. He was actually in training with Hearts before he signed back at Saints. I saw how he worked for a few weeks and the standard he set on a daily basis. He was brilliant and I’m looking forward to learning off him even more.”
A St Johnstone statement reads: “We are delighted to announce the signing of Macaulay Tait from Heart of Midlothian, subject to all relevant clearance. The central midfielder joins the Saints on a two-year contract until the summer of 2028. An energetic player who is comfortable on the ball, Macaulay (20) came through the academy at Hearts before making his senior debut in December 2023 – a 2-0 victory at Celtic Park. Macaulay will wear the number 25 shirt.”
Hearts said of the move: “Macaulay Tait has joined St Johnstone on a permanent deal subject to Scottish FA approval. A product of the Hearts Academy, the central midfielder made 16 first team appearances, after initially impressing for the Hearts B team in the Lowland League. Macaulay made his senior debut in a 2-0 victory at Celtic Park in December 2023 and would go on to feature for the club in Europe. Having spent the previous two seasons on loan at Livingston, the 20-year-old now makes the move to McDiarmid Park on a permanent deal. Everyone at the club would like to thank Macaulay for his efforts in a maroon jersey and wish him well for the future.”