Hearts confirm signing of Marc Leonard on loan from Birmingham City

Hearts have confirmed the signing of Marc Leonard on loan for the rest of the season.

The midfielder joins the Premiership leaders from English Championship side Birmingham for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.

The 24-year-old, who left the Jambos academy as a teenager in 2018 is in the frame to be pitched in for his debut in a top of the table clash this weekend.

Derek McInnes’ table toppers host second-placed Celtic as they eye a victory that would take them nine points clear of the defending champions.

But their preparation for the high-stakes Tynecastle clash has been hindered by issues surrounding most of their key midfielders.

Cammy Devlin was last week ruled out until March with an ankle injury, while Beni Baningime is suspended and Tomas Magnusson, a regular starter in recent months, is a doubt with a hamstring issue.

Ageu and Oisin McEntee are both pushing to return after their injury lay-offs but neither are likely to be ready to start, so, with Blair Spittal the only fully fit option available, meaing McInnes may have to pitch Leonard straight into the team.

The midfielder has made more than 60 appearances since joining Birmingham in the summer of 2024 but has started only five matches this term and has not featured since a substitute outing in a 3-0 defeat at Watford in the Championship on January 1.

Hearts announced the signing on Friday night.

McInnes said; “I’m really pleased we’ve been able to get Marc in and bolster the squad.

“Marc knows the club, he knows Scottish football, what it means and what’s at stake, and that is a really big positive for me.

“He’s clearly a very good player and he was keen to come here and be part of something that could be very special.”