Hearts signing turns trailblazer as selling club bank record fee in Jambos deal amid 'major milestone'
Hearts have agreed a transfer deal with the American side and it’s a move that’s been hailed Stateside.
Rhode Island have hailed their transfer agreement with Hearts that has brought JJ Williams to Tynecastle.
The USL Championship side formed in 2019 but who didn’t play competitively until five years later have sold their all-time leading goalscorer for a club-record fee. He is also the first player they have sold to a team in Europe after an agreement was struck over a deal in the region of £100k. Striker Williams could make his Hearts debut against St Johnstone on Saturday.
It’s a ‘milestone’ deal for the Stateside outfit who state: “Rhode Island FC announced that it has transferred forward JJ Williams to Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian FC for a club-record transfer fee, pending league and federation approval. Williams, who was one of RIFC’s first signings ahead of its historic inaugural season in 2024, departs RIFC as the club’s all-time leading scorer with 30 career goals.
Why has JJ Williams been sold to Hearts?
“Williams is the first player in club history to move to a European club and the second player this season to earn a transfer to a top-division side, solidifying RIFC as one of the USL Championship’s premier clubs for player development. Williams has been one of Rhode Island FC’s most influential players in its young history, and the club is extremely grateful for his contributions on and off the field. Everyone at RIFC wishes Williams all the best as he embarks on the next chapter of his career in Scotland.”
General manager Khano Smith said: “It is a major milestone to become a player in the global football marketplace within three years. Preparing players to compete in Europe is proof of concept of the environment we have built at Rhode Island FC. JJ will forever be an important piece of our club’s history, and we are extremely grateful for everything he has given us over the last three seasons. We wish him the best of luck as he takes this next step in his career.”
Williams told Hearts TV of his move to Gorgie: “It's a dream come true for me, honestly. I was hoping that this deal would have been done a long time ago, but the fact that I'm here, I'm getting immersed in the culture. I'm getting to experience a lot of the history that's Hearts and there's no place I'd rather be. As I'm concerned, it's the only club that I'm worried about, thinking about.
“For me I just want to take that big step. For so many years I've been looking to get out of the States and it's just how everything happened for me to do it now. I'm beyond blessed and happy to be here. Rhode Island was great. I think it was a big learning experience for me and my family. I learned a lot off the field and on the field. I met a lot of people and relationships that I'll cherish for life. It was big and I'm hoping to create some more here.”