Hearts to spend 'significant' six figure compensation fee on new signing as latest recruit in 11-word message
Hearts have started making moves ahead of next season.
Lincoln City claim Hearts will provide them a ‘significant’ six-figure fee for MJ Kamson-Kamara - as the defender’s former chairman sends a message to the new Jambos recruit.
The defender has left English Championship-bound Lincoln City at the end of his contract, following a loan in Northern Ireland at Glentoran, signing a deal at the Premiership side until 2030. He said on social media that he is ‘proud to join this amazing club’ and that he ‘can't wait to get going.’ Kamson-Kamara is the latest signing after St Johnstone winger Josh McPake’s pre-contract and other irons are in the fire.
Their latest recruit comes with a cost though, as due to the Imps offering the new Hearts signing a fresh contract, cross-border compensation is owed to them. Lincoln have praised the Jambos as a club on the up but state the amount they are owed is in the six-figure bracket.
How much have Hearts paid for MJ Kamson-Kamara?
Lincoln’s sporting director Jez George said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for MJ at a club that is only going in one direction. With the strength in depth that we have in his position, further enhanced by the addition of Deji Elerewe in January, we simply do not have a pathway for him and, as he is 21 on his next birthday, the time is right for him to move on.
“Due to FIFA rules for cross border compensation, it means that we will receive a significant six-figure fee, so we are compensated for the four years of his development at the club. We wish MJ well for his future career.”
A club statement adds: “MJ Kamson-Kamara will complete a move to Hearts at the completion of his contract with City this summer. City will receive a cross-border compensation fee from the Scottish Premiership runners-up due to the player being under 24. Kamson-Kamara signed his first professional contract with the Imps in 2023 after coming through the club’s scholarship programme.”
How did MJ Kamson-Kamara fare at Glentoran?
“The 20-year-old made his senior debut for the Imps in the Vertu Trophy against Grimsby Town in 2024 and spent time on loan at Barwell and Peterborough Sports before enjoying a successful loan at Glentoran for the 2025/26 campaign.”
Glentoran is where ‘MJ’ has played much of his senior football and he delighted club chairman Colin Jess during his time at the Oval. He would have liked the defender back in Northern Ireland but knew that wasn’t going to be an option after a strong loan, so when it comes to a Gorgie chance, Jess hopes game time is plentiful. Key Hearts centre-back Craig Halkett faces extensive time out with an Achilles injury while Frankie Kent has left the club at the end of his contract.
“He's a player that we loved, the supporters loved him,” Jess told the Evening News. “We really did value his time with us. We would have been very keen, obviously, if he wanted to stay but obviously that wasn't going to happen. Particularly with Lincoln going up to the English Championship as well. They probably would have wanted him to play at a higher standard if they wanted to keep him. With Hearts coming in, it's just a no-brainer for him. We certainly as a club wish him all the very best in what he's doing and where he's going to. I just hope he gets the opportunity of playing. MJ will always be welcome back in East Belfast.”
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