Findlay rejoins McInnes on loan to Hearts from Oxford

Derek McInnes views Stuart Findlay as "a leader"

Stuart Findlay has joined Heart of Midlothian on a season-long loan from Oxford United, with head coach Derek McInnes expressing his delight at being able to work with the "domineering defender" once again.

The 29-year-old centre-half was on loan to Kilmarnock for the last two seasons and now follows his manager at Rugby Park to Tynecastle.

Oxford say Findlay will leave the Championship club next summer when his contract expires.

McInnes told Hearts' website: "Stuart is obviously someone I know very well from the years we've previously spent working together.

"I know his attributes and every aspect of his game. He's a domineering defender, strong and athletic, and he is a real leader on and off the pitch."

Findlay, who has one cap for Scotland, started his career as a youth Celtic before spells on loan to Greenock Morton, Dumbarton and Kilmarnock before a switch to Newcastle United in 2016.

Having failed to break into the first-team, he return to Scotland on loan to Kilmarnock before a permanent switch in 2018.

A move to Philadelphia Union followed in 2021 before joining Oxford in 2022.

Despite being a near ever-present in his first season with the then League One outfit, he returned north for another spell in Ayrshire.

Findlay made 23 appearances for Kilmarnock last season, all but one of them starts and, on joining Hearts, said that playing again under McInnes, who he credits with helping him "rediscover my form", was a major factor on his decision.

An hour after Hearts announced Findlay's arrival, Kilmarnock revealed that they have signed George Stanger on a two-year contract after the 24-year-old defender rejected a new deal with Championship club Ayr United.

Meanwhile, Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis has officially arrived at Tynecastle having already signed a pre-contract agreement to join Hearts at the end of his contract with Slovakian club Zemplin Michalovce.

He and Findlay both mentioned the atmosphere at Tynecastle was a factor in attracting them to the club.

They will meet their new team-mates for the first time on Friday as pre-season training commences.