James Wilson’s meteoric rise has been capped with a new contract at Heart of Midlothian following a landmark breakthrough campaign for both club and country.
The 18-year-old striker, who became Scotland’s youngest ever international when he came off the bench against Greece at Hampden Park on March 23, has penned fresh terms at Tynecastle, extending his stay until 2027 with the option of further extensions.
Wilson’s rapid ascent from academy hopeful to first-team regular has been one of the standout stories of Hearts’ unpredictable season.
Having forced his way into Neil Critchley’s senior squad, the teenager has so far found the net six times — a tally which included becoming the youngest player in the club’s history to score in European competition.
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Wilson’s new deal was confirmed alongside fellow academy graduate Adam Forrester, with the 20-year-old defender agreeing terms until 2028 after his own rise to prominence in Gorgie.
Forrester made his first-team debut against Ross County back in September and soon followed that with a European bow during the 2-1 away win over Dinamo Minsk in Azerbaijan.
His growing influence was recognised at international level last month, earning a maiden Scotland Under-21 call-up and two caps.
With both players now tied down, Hearts boss Critchley hailed the commitment and progress of the young duo.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website, he said: “It’s great news that both James and Adam have committed their futures to the club.
“They have both contributed massively to the first-team in their debut seasons and with more important games to come, we’re confident that their attitude towards learning and their desire to improve means that they have a big future at the club.
“It’s important to remember that neither are the finished article yet. They are young players who will continue to develop and the experiences they’ve encountered this season will be invaluable to their growth as first-team players.
“We look forward to watching them pull on the maroon shirt in the months and years ahead.”
Hearts failed to make the Scottish Premiership top-six following a 0-0 draw with Motherwell last weekend, allowing St Mirren to pounce and secure their spot among the league's elite for a third-consecutive season.
But attention for Wilson, Forrester, and their Hearts colleagues now turns to the Scottish Cup, where they take on Aberdeen in a huge semi-final clash this Saturday lunchtime.
