Hearts have announced their first signing of the summer window in the form of James Penrice, who has penned a three-year-deal at Tynecastle following the expiry of his contract at Livingston. The Jambos love to utilise the free agent pool and have signed plenty of quality players over the years for no transfer fee at all.
It’s unlikely Hearts will stop there though with their 2024 summer business, but the first signing of the window is always a good way to judge how the rest of the period will play out. We’ve taken a look back through the archives and listed all of the Jambos’ first summer signings over the last 15 years — take a look below and see where the players are today.
![Signed on a free transfer after leaving Livingston and has penned a three-year deal with the Jambos.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/18/13/42/20976066+%281%29.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
1. Summer 2024: James Penrice
Signed on a free transfer after leaving Livingston and has penned a three-year deal with the Jambos. | SNS Group
![Signed on a free transfer after leaving Norwich City and is currently set to leave Hearts as a free agent.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/28/12/30/20906932.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
2. Summer 2023: Michael McGovern
Signed on a free transfer after leaving Norwich City and is currently set to leave Hearts as a free agent. | SNS GroupPhoto: July 2023: Signed from Norwich City
![Signed on a free deal after leaving Livingston and is under contract with Hearts until 2026.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/21/8/11/20888956.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
3. Summer 2022: Alan Forrest
Signed on a free deal after leaving Livingston and is under contract with Hearts until 2026. | SNS Group
![Signed in a free move from Livingston before being released in 2023 at the end of his contract. Stewart signed for Partick Thistle as a free agent in January.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/28/13/15/20732100.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
4. Summer 2021: Ross Stewart
Signed in a free move from Livingston before being released in 2023 at the end of his contract. Stewart signed for Partick Thistle as a free agent in January. | SNS Group