Alex Cochrane says European football was one of the main factors behind sealing a permanent exit from English Premier League side Brighton to join Hearts.
The left-back enjoyed a successful loan spell at Tynecastle last season in which Robbie Neilson's men earned a third place Premiership finish and Scottish Cup final place. Their achievements in the league means that they have a Europa League play-off to look forward to this summer, and even if they aren't to move forward in that competition, they'll contest the Europa Conference League group stages until December.
Cochrane signs a three-year deal at Hearts and has joined Neilson's men for their warm weather training camp in Marbella, Spain. He is the fourth summer signing for the Jambos after Lewis Neilson's arrival from Dundee United, Alan Forrest of Livingston and Kye Rowles swapping A League side Central Coast Mariners over in Australia for Edinburgh's capital.
