New signing Jamie McCart says when the opportunity to join the Jambos came knocking it was a “no-brainer”.
The 27-year-old centre-half today signed a permanent deal with the boys in maroon, penning a contract until 2029 after making the move from Rotherham United.
No stranger to Scottish football, a double cup-winner during his time at St Johnstone, Jamie knows all about Hearts and can’t wait to pull on the maroon jersey.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website, he said; “I’m over the moon. I think when I first heard of the interest from Hearts, I was obviously eager to hear what the manager and the club had to say, and then as soon as I spoke to them, it was an absolute no-brainer.
“The size of the club, the stature of it and the ambitions of it, it just made it such an easy decision for me.
“You speak to anyone in Scotland, and even when you speak to people down south, they understand how big a club Hearts is.
“The support, the fan base, it's incredible. I don't think I've had too many positive results against Hearts. I think I scored my only St Johnstone goal in the Premiership against Hearts, but Tynecastle was my favourite stadium to play at in Scotland.
“I think a lot of players would say that. It's an incredible atmosphere. The fans are right on you, and it's a brilliant place to play your football, so it's a privilege to sign for Hearts.”
A near ever-present for Rotherham this season, things were going well on the park for Jamie. But following a conversation with Head Coach Neil Critchley, the defender knew his future lay in Gorgie.
“All you want really is the confidence of your manager, but I need to come in and show that I can perform at the highest level for Hearts, and that's something I'm really confident I can do, and I'm really excited about starting,” he said. “It's just getting in there and meeting all the squad and the staff, and hopefully impressing in training to get a start.
“But I think for everyone at the club, it'll just be focusing on the next game, putting in good performances, which I think, watching the team in the past few weeks and months, they have been very unfortunate with results.
“So, I think that's just got to be the short term, is looking game to game and doing the best we can.”
