Manchester City youngster Ashley Smith-Brown has agreed to join Hearts of Midlothian on loan, it has been confirmed.
The 21-year-old left-back will officially sign for Hearts on a season-long loan in the next 72 hours, as the move is subject to international clearance.
The Scottish Premiership outfit announced the news on their official website and on their official Twitter account on Friday afternoon.
Hearts agree deal to take @ManCity wing back Ashley Smith-Brown on season-long loan | https://t.co/Q1CDLamYHv pic.twitter.com/W6uktEVXgT
— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) June 30, 2017
This confirmation comes after the Scottish Sun reported last week that Hearts had won the race to sign the 21-year-old on loan.
Smith-Brown becomes Hearts’ sixth arrival of the summer, as Kyle Lafferty, Rafal Grzelak, Christophe Berra, Michael Smith and Cole Stockton have all already completed moves.
The defender has been at City since he was just 10-years-old, and he has represented the club’s various youth outfits.
He spent the 2016-17 campaign on loan at Dutch outfit NAC Breda, and he was key figure in the side that won promotion to the Eresdivisie.
Smith-Brown was a mainstay of the club’s back line, making 30 appearances across all competitions.
The 21-year-old is naturally a left-back, but he has also comfortable at centre-back, right-back and even in defensive midfield.
He has been capped on five occasions by England Under-20s, but he is yet to receive a call-up to the Under-21s outfit.