Hearts complete deal for Boateng as Salazar watches on

Malachi Boateng was warming up at Tynecastle shortly after his signing was announced

Malachi Boateng joined Heart of Midlothian from Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee in time to make his debut against Rangers - and potential signing Andres Salazar was watching from the Tynecastle stand.

Boateng, the 22-year-old defensive midfielder who was on loan to Dundee last season, has agreed a three-year deal with the Scottish Premiership club.

His signing was announced in the morning before he took his place on the bench and came on as a late substitute in Saturday's goalless Scottish Premiership opener.

London-born Boateng has previous experience in Scotland after a loan spell with Queen's Park before making 36 appearances for Dundee.

Head coach Steven Naismith told the club website: "In Malachi, we’ve got a strong, athletic, ball-winning and ball-playing midfielder.

"We’ve done the bulk of our recruitment early, but we’re always assessing our differing requirements and, with a couple of players out through injury, it’s pushed us to act swiftly."

Indeed, when asked whether Salazar, the 21-year-old currently with Atletico Nacional and who has one senior cap for Colombia, was at Saturday's game, Naismith replied: "I think he was, so we'll see how that develops in the coming days."