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 for free after leaving Celtic and is still with Hearts. His contract expires next summer.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/22/8/17/GettyImages-1387709990.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. Summer 2020: Craig Gordon
Signed for free after leaving Celtic and is still with Hearts. His contract expires next summer. | Getty Images
![Signed following a pre-contract agreement from Livingston and is under contract at Tynecastle until 2026.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/21/7/13/20636782.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. Summer 2019: Craig Halkett
Signed following a pre-contract agreement from Livingston and is under contract at Tynecastle until 2026. | SNS Group
![Signed for free after leaving St Johnstone and spent two years with Hearts before announcing his retirement in 2020.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/02/22/15/50/GettyImages-176456176.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. Summer 2018: Steven MacLean
Signed for free after leaving St Johnstone and spent two years with Hearts before announcing his retirement in 2020. | Getty Images
![After a free transfer from Ipswich Town, Berra left Hearts in 2021 to sign for Raith Rovers and eventually retired the following summer.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/01/26/14/34/20029526.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
8. Summer 2017: Christophe Berra
After a free transfer from Ipswich Town, Berra left Hearts in 2021 to sign for Raith Rovers and eventually retired the following summer. | SNS Group