Hearts sign another new player - Aron Benjaminsen transfer update

JJ Williams today finalised his move to Hearts after completing a medical and signing a two-year contract at Tynecastle Park. The 28-year-old arrived in Edinburgh on Saturday as the new striker ready to the lead the club’s forward line. He leaves the American USL Championship side Rhode Island for a transfer fee in the region of £100,000 and could make his Hearts debut against St Johnstone on Saturday.

The Edinburgh News revealed earlier this month that Hearts had submitted an offer for Williams, who scored 11 goals and claimed five assists from 23 appearances with Rhode Island this year. That data saw him flagged up by Hearts’ recruitment partner, Jamestown Analytics, and the player is now ready to test himself in Europe as the 11th new signing in Gorgie since the end of last season. He has been given the No.9 squad number.

He is 6ft 4ins tall and operates best as a central striker. He is mobile and aggressive and thrives on crosses into the penalty box. Jamestown believe he has attributes which could be ideally suited to Scottish football. Williams cannot play in Wednesday’s UEFA Conference League play-off second leg because he was not registered in Hearts’ European squad before the first leg began. He is hoping to be available for Saturday’s Premiership match against St Johnstone at Tynecastle.

Williams’ list of former clubs includes MLS sides Columbus Crew and Atlanta United, but he has spent the vast majority of his career in the USL Championship playing second-tier football. He spent time with Tampa Bay Rowdies, Phoenix Rising, FC Tulsa, Birmingham Legion, Dayton Dutch Lions, Reading United and Birmingham Hammers.

It remains to be seen whether he will become a partner or a replacement for Claudio Braga. The Portuguese forward has a long list of suitors as the summer transfer window prepares to close next week. French club Lyon and Turkish side Trabzonspor are both monitoring him along with several English teams.

So far, there have been no acceptable offers for the 26-year-old, whose contract at Tynecastle runs until summer 2028. Hearts want between £8m and £10m to sell Braga but may receive offers lower than that amount. He was signed in summer 2025 for £430,000 from the Norwegian second division side FK Aalesunds.

Tynecastle officials are also working to complete the signing of teenage Faroese winger Aron Benjaminsen. Talks have progressed with his club, Vikingur Gota, and all parties are in agreement for Benjaminsen to become a Hearts player before the summer transfer window closes on Thursday, 3 September. There is still some paperwork to be completed and Benjaminsen will then travel to Scotland to finalise his move.

The 18-year-old is one of the most promising young talents to emerge from the Faroe Islands in recent years. He has scored nine goals and claimed eight assists in 25 appearances for Vikingur this year. A Faroe Island Under-21 internationalist, he is keen to test himself at a higher level abroad.

Hearts believe he has the potential to develop into an asset and are set to secure his signature for a modest fee which could reach six figures. Vikingur have been preparing for Benjaminsen’s departure this summer. They are to due to play Havnar Bóltfelag on Friday night and it remains to be seen if Benjaminsen is involved before his Hearts transfer is finalised.

In a statement announcing Williams’ signining, the Tynecastle club said: “Heart of Midlothian is delighted to confirm the signing of American striker JJ Williams from USL Championship side Rhode Island FC for an undisclosed fee. The 28-year-old has agreed a two-year deal at Tynecastle Park, subject to international clearance and Scottish FA approval.

“A towering 6’4” striker, JJ arrives in Gorgie with a wealth of experience across the American game, having amassed more than 200 professional appearances, 69 goals and 36 assists during his career. Powerful and hard-working, JJ combines physical presence with technical ability, posing a threat inside the opposition’s box, while also being adept at bringing his teammates into play deep inside the final third.

“Born in New Mexico and raised in Alabama, JJ shattered records for goal contributions during his high school years before scooping numerous accolades playing college soccer. He was drafted to MLS side Columbus Crew in 2019, making his professional debut that same year, before a move to fellow MLS outfit Atlanta United a year later.

“It was in the USL Championship – the second tier of American football – with Birmingham Legion where JJ began to hit the goal trail, as he did with FC Tulsa and Pheonix Rising before arriving at Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2023. His season in Florida saw a return of 12 goals and nine assists as JJ helped the Rowdies to a second-place finish in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference, although they would go on to lose in the play-offs.

“2024 saw JJ on the move to fellow USL Championship side Rhode Island. 12 goals and nine assists in his first campaign helped RIFC win the Eastern Conference Final, but they would suffer defeat in the USL Championship Game finale. To date JJ has 30 strikes to his name in a Rhode Island shirt, with 13 assists giving him a total of 43 goal contributions in 79. JJ now makes the journey across the water to call Gorgie his home, being assigned the number 9 jersey at Tynecastle Park.”