Hearts Secure Signing of Oisin McEntee in Boost to Summer Recruitment
Heart of Midlothian has announced the pre-contract signing of Oisin McEntee, who will join the club on a three-year deal this summer, according to a report on the club’s official website, Hearts FC. The Republic of Ireland youth internationalist will make the move to Tynecastle on the expiry of his contract with League 2 outfit Walsall.
The 24-year-old becomes the Jambos’ fourth summer signing, following in the footsteps of Christian Borchgrevink, Alexandros Kyziridis, and Elton Kabangu. McEntee is a product of the Newcastle United Academy, having joined at the age of 16. During his time with the Magpies, he captained the U18s and U23s, and reached the last four of the Super Cup NI in 2017 and the last eight of the FA Youth Cup in the same campaign.
McEntee has also gained experience in Scottish football, having spent a season on loan at Greenock Morton, where he featured 28 times and scored his only goal in a 1-0 victory over Partick Thistle. He then joined Walsall on a two-year contract, making 79 appearances and scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win over Salford in September 2023. As Hearts FC reports, McEntee has been capped for the Republic of Ireland at youth level from U17s through to European Qualifiers at U21 level in 2023.
The central midfielder has been praised by Hearts head coach Derek McInnes, who told the Official Hearts Website: "It’s great that we’ve been able to get this deal done and we can now welcome Oisin to the club. It became clear in our conversations that Oisin is hungry, he wants to learn and improve, and he wants to be part of what we’re trying to do here at Hearts."
McInnes also highlighted McEntee’s versatility, saying: "He’s a ball player whilst being physically imposing, and an extremely versatile player. He’s played in defence and midfield, so to have options around his positioning is a big plus. Oisin’s gained a lot of experience down south and he has knowledge of Scottish football too, which is a bonus, and I’m sure he’ll fit in well to the squad we’re building."
As reported by Hearts FC, McEntee will join the Jambos on a deal until the summer of 2028, providing a significant boost to the club’s summer recruitment. With his experience and versatility, McEntee is expected to play a key role in McInnes’ side as they look to build on their recent successes.
The signing of McEntee is a significant coup for Hearts, who have been keen to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season. With a busy summer ahead, the Jambos will be looking to make a strong impression in the Scottish Premiership, and the addition of McEntee will undoubtedly be a welcome boost to the team. According to Hearts FC, McEntee will team up with McInnes’ side this summer, and fans will be eager to see him in action at Tynecastle.
McEntee’s background and experience make him an exciting addition to the Hearts squad. Having come through the ranks at Newcastle United, he has already demonstrated his potential and ability. As Hearts FC notes, McEntee has been influential in Walsall’s promotion push, making his final appearance for the club in Monday’s playoff final at Wembley.
The Jambos will be looking to build on their recent successes, and the signing of McEntee is a significant step in the right direction. With a strong squad and a talented young player like McEntee on board, Hearts will be a force to be reckoned with in the Scottish Premiership.
