ATHLETIC have completed their tenth signing under manager Peter Grant by swooping for former Hearts defender Leon Jones.

The 23-year-old, who most recently was with Kentucky Wildcats in the United States, has signed a one-year contract and is available for this weekend's match with Partick Thistle.

Jones, a former Scotland youth cap who has previously played alongside Kevin O'Hara, for Scotland in the prestigious Victory Shield competition, and Nikolay Todorov, an ex-Hearts player himself, has recently returned home from a four-year scholarship at the University of Kentucky, where he graduated with a degreee in chemical engineering.

The Glasgow-born player began his career in Edinburgh with the Jambos at the age of seven and made two appearances for their under-20s in the 2016/17 Irn-Bru Cup.

Jones, who wn four caps for Scotland's under-15s and five for the under-16s, had been offered a one-year contract extension at Tynecastle but decided to make the move Stateside, combining his studies with playing for the university's team, the Wildcats.

Whilst there, he was a key player as they achieved league and cup success in 2019, their best season to date.

The centre back, who is eligible to play for China or Hong Kong through his mother, Jennifer, spoke to the Press this afternoon and we will have an interview with him in Thursday's print edition.