York City in the money as defender joins Champions League club
York City have received the biggest transfer fee in their history after Malachi Fagan-Walcott joined Heart of Midlothian.
The centre-back, inset, was a key figure in the Minstermen team which won a return to the Football League after a decade away, but will now be playing in the Champions League qualifiers.
The fee has not been disclosed but York are reporting it is higher than their previous record, of £950,000 for Richard Cresswell when the striker moved to then-Premier League Sheffield Wednesday in 1999.
Sources in North Yorkshire are describing it as a seven-figure fee, in Edinburgh six, with add-ons perhaps explaining the difference.
There was also interest from Oxford United, relegated from the Championship last season, but the race for the 24-year-old has been won by Hearts, pipped to the Scottish Premiership by Celtic in stoppage time on the final day of the 2025-26 season in a title decider almost on a par with York's at Rochdale for drama.
Manager Derek McInnes left for Rangers the day before Fagan-Walcott's move was confirmed, but he is the Jam Tarts' fifth summer signing.
A Tottenham Hotspur academy product who never played for the first team, Fagan-Walcott joined from Cardiff City in September 2024.
Before that he had loans with Dundee and Dunfermline Athletic.
He made 37 appearances in the back three of York's Conference-winning side last season, scoring eight goals and impressing with his composure in possession.
His loss will be a blow to York, but they could hardly stand in the way of an opportunity like the one Hearts can offer, and they now have a significant chunk of money to reinvest as they look to upgrade their squad for the Football League.
York's statement announcing the sale of Fagan-Walcott ended: "All of us at York City would like to thank and wish the very best of luck to Mal. The sky's the limit; we are all rooting for you."
Stuart Maynard’s side have already agreed the Bosman signings of midfielders Mark Shelton and Franke Maguire from Barnet and Boston United, plus the return of fans favourite Dipo Akinyemi after the striker agreed a move from Derry City.
Football League clubs will discover their fixture list for the coming season at noon on June 25. York have not played in League Two since 2016.