Daniel Oyegoke: Hearts buy England youth from Brentford

“He’s not comfortable just standing still in a safe environment, he wants to forge a career and advance to a higher level, and I expect him to do that with Hearts.”

Oyegoke joined Brentford in 2021 after four years in Arsenal’s youth academy and was a regular in former Hearts midfielder Neil MacFarlane’s B team before a six-month spell on loan to MK Dons in League One.

He went on to play 28 times last season as Bradford narrowly missed out on the League Two play-offs.

Meantime, he has featured for England from under-16 to under-20 level, being part of the 2022 Under-19 European Championship winning side and an ever-present in last year’s Under-20s World Cup.

“He’s versatile, has physicality and also a calmness in possession,” Naismith added. “He’s willing to take the ball under pressure and that’s a big part of the way we want our defenders to play.”

Oyegoke’s arrival coincides with the departure of fellow right-back Rocco Friel after the 17-year-old chose to move to Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee.