Alex Cochrane has sealed his Hearts return after agreeing a permanent three-year deal following a successful loan spell at Tynecastle last season with the Jambos beating English Championship competition to land the defender.
Robbie Neilson and his squad are in Spain for a warm weather pre-season training camp and they have now announced the signing of Cochrane who becomes the fourth recruit of the summer transfer window, with John Souttar heading for the exit after penning a pre-contract with Rangers in January.
English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion triggered a contract extension in 22-year-old Cochrane’s contract before agreeing to sell him. Hearts were desperate to take him back to the capital and the player was keen on a return with the chance to experience European group stage football in either the Europa or Conference League. They will also aim to build on last season's third place finish and Scottish Cup final appearance.
Cochrane coveted by Coventry City and Michael Beale’s Queen’s Park Rangers, joins Alan Forrest, signed from Livingston, Kye Rowles from Central Coast Mariners and Lewis Neilson who arrived on a free after leaving Dundee United.
The stopper played 40 times for the men in maroon last season, mainly playing in the left wing back role, and the player admitted he is delighted to have signed a permanent deal at the Jambos.
Neilson, speaking to the Hearts website, said: “It’s fantastic to get Alex back in permanently. He was a huge part of the success the team enjoyed last season so to get him back in as a Hearts player for three years is great news.
“His versatility on that left side is hugely important to the way we play and I think he benefitted massively from getting a full season of first-team football under his belt.
“He’s a popular lad in the dressing room and obviously there is great familiarity there so I hope he can pick up from where he left off last season and hit the ground running.
Sporting director Joe Savage added: “Everyone was impressed with Alex’s contribution to the team last season so it made perfect sense to try and bring him back in on a permanent deal.
“He’s still a young player but he’s clearly very talented and has a hunger to improve, and - as we’ve demonstrated time and time again - Hearts is a place for talented players to flourish.
“I have to thank Davie Weir at Brighton & Hove Albion for the part he played in making this move happen, and also our own board here at Hearts because they are backing us at a crucial moment in the club’s history, and we’re really grateful for that.”
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