Hearts sign MJ Kamson-Kamara with compensation and more transfers to come
English defender set to check in at Tynecastle
English centre-back MJ Kamson-Kamara has signed a pre-contract agreement to join Hearts as he prepares to leave Lincoln City on freedom of contract. He has agreed a four-year deal at Tynecastle Park, effective from 1 July, with Hearts obliged to pay compensation to Lincoln as per FIFA rules on player development.
The 20-year-old was not short on offers after an impressive campaign at Northern Irish side Glentoran. Lincoln put forward a new contract, Glentoran wanted to keep him, and other British sides also coveted his signature. He chose Hearts for the opportunity to sample European football and challenge in the Scottish Premiership next season. The Edinburgh club will begin Champions League qualifiers in July after finishing second in the league for the first time in 20 years.
Kamson-Kamara arrives with Frankie Kent leaving Hearts at the end of his contract, and fellow centre-back Craig Halkett sidelined for seven to nine months with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Tynecastle officials studied their latest signing closely and admired his athleticism, aggression and composure as a right-footed central defender.
He began his career at Bromley and began working with the XYZ Academy aged 16. He then moved to Lincoln and signed his first professional contract in February 2023. After loan spells at Barwell and Peterborough Sports Club, he was farmed out to Glentoran last August and became one of their standout players this season.
He managed 30 appearances and four goals as the Belfast club finished third in the NIFL Premiership and earned a place in the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round. Kamson-Kamara was also part of the Glentoran side which got to the Irish League Cup final. However, that ended in disappointment as they lost 1-0 to Linfield after extra-time.
Kamson-Kamara will now report to Riccarton for pre-season training next month alongside the St Johnstone winger Josh McPake. He is another player moving to Tynecastle as a free agent after signing a pre-contract agreement earlier this year. French midfielder Tom Renaud has also committed his future to Hearts. Moves to sign the Falkirk winger Calvin Miller and the York City defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott are ongoing. Both players are keen to continue their careers in Edinburgh but negotiations are far from concluded.
Talks are also ongoing regarding Frenchman Amadou Ba-Sy as Hearts look to bring the Rouen forward to Scotland to strengthen their attack. He is keen to step up from France’s third tier, the Championnat National, and there is hope at Tynecastle that the deal can be finalised in the very near future. The transfer is likely to be worth more than €200,000 [£173,000].
After Lawrence Shankland’s departure for Rangers earlier this week, Hearts confirmed four other players are also leaving the club. Kent is joined by fellow defender Lewis Neilson, midfielder Beni Baningime and winger Alan Forrest in heading for the exit as their contracts expire.
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