Perry Kitchen has officially found his new home.
Heart of Midlothian announced on Wednesday that the club has signed the former D.C. United midfielder. Kitchen joins the Scottish club on a two-and-a-half-year deal after leaving D.C. United as a free agent following the conclusion of the 2015 season.
“I’m really happy that we’ve managed to get Perry signed up,” said head coach Robbie Neilson. “Everyone’s worked really hard to get this deal over the line, so I’m pleased that he’s now officially a Hearts player. Perry’s a great talent and one I’m looking forward to working with. He’s got a wealth of experience over in the MLS but he wants to test himself in Europe, and I’m delighted that he’s chosen Hearts as the place to further develop himself.
“He’s a winner and will show real drive and determination in the middle of the park. We want to provide a platform for him to perform, and I know he will also help our younger players to progress as well.”
Kitchen joins Hearts following 158 career appearances and 10 goals with D.C. United. The midfielder has made three appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team and was recently a part of Jurgen Klinsmann’s January camp squad.
“I’m very impressed,” Kitchen said of his new home. “The training facility, and with the new improvements as well, is going to be top class. Edinburgh as a city is beautiful, with the castle, the city, Princes Street, it’s what you want out of a city. I think this is a great place to be, a great place to start, for sure. I’m excited to get going. When I first got here Robbie gave me the rounds, showed me everything, explained how the team is and how they like to play. I was impressed with everything. It was all the right things that I was hearing.
“I feel like, coming off the U.S. camp which ended about a month ago, I’m still in pretty good fitness form. But it’s obviously different doing your own thing as it is to being in a training environment, so it’ll take a bit of time but I think it’ll happen pretty quickly.”
Kitchen could be in line to make his debut as soon as Saturday in Hearts’ clash with Dundee. Hearts currently sits third in the Scottish Premier League, nine points behind Aberdeen and ten behind first place Celtic.
What do you think of the move? Excited to see Kitchen play for Hearts? What do you expect from him with the club?
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