Walker on the road to Wigan

WIGAN have completed the £300,000 signing of Jamie Walker from Hearts, the Sky Bet League One club have announced.

The former Scotland U/21 international agreed terms with Latics last week and has now put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

Jambos manager Craig Levein had been desperate to keep hold of the 24-yearold but Tynecastle chiefs were forced to let the attacker leave now or risk losing him for nothing this summer when his contract was due to expire.

Now, after completing his move to the DW Stadium, Walker aims to help his new club win promotion to the Championship.

“I am delighted to be here,” he said. “It has been on the cards for a while but I’m delighted to now get it over the line and concentrate on playing my football.

“I have been at Hearts a long time, it’s a great club with great people and I played a lot of games there and scored a lot of goals.

“This is a good change for me and certainly a club where I can progress my career.

“I had a few clubs sniffing around but as soon as I came here, saw the facilities, met the manager, watched the game and saw how the manager wants us to play and how that will suit me perfectly, I chose here.

“The team are flying high at the top of the table and hopefully going to t he Championship. Hopefully, I can get into the team and contribute a few goals.”

Walker joined Hearts at the age of 10 and made his debut against Inverness in August 2012.

He went on to make a total of 181 appearances in a maroon shirt and bagged 40 goals.

A Hearts spokesman said: “The club would like to wish Jamie every success in his career down south.”

Jamie Walker has left Tynecastle.