Hearts Left-Back Penrice Nears £2m Move to AEK Athens

James Penrice, the 26-year-old left-back for Heart of Midlothian and the club's player of the year, is on the verge of a transfer to Greek Super League side AEK Athens for a fee close to £2 million. Penrice, who joined Hearts last summer from Livingston on a free transfer, impressed despite Hearts finishing in the lower half of the Scottish Premiership. The deal is expected to be finalized within 24 hours, pending Penrice agreeing personal terms and completing a medical with AEK, who finished fourth in the Greek league last season. This move marks Penrice as the second Scottish player to transfer to Greece this week, following Greg Taylor's switch from Celtic to PAOK Thessaloniki. Meanwhile, Hearts secured a significant retention by signing striker Lawrence Shankland to a new three-year contract, making him the club's highest-paid player and ensuring the prolific forward remains at Tynecastle. Hearts are likely to seek a replacement left-back following Penrice's departure as they continue to rebuild their squad.