Manchester City beat Manchester United to Hearts midfielder

Manchester City have beaten crosstown rivals Manchester United to the signature of 16-year-old Hearts midfielder Keir McMeekin, with a pre-contract agreement expected to be finalised this summer, the Daily Mail reports. The deal will deliver an immediate £600,000 compensation fee to Hearts of Midlothian, a figure that could escalate to £2 million if McMeekin reaches a set number of senior appearances for the Premier League champions.

The Edinburgh club, currently enjoying a remarkable Scottish Premiership campaign and sitting five points clear of Celtic and six ahead of Rangers, now receive a timely financial boost as they chase a first league title since 1959-60. McMeekin, who has trained with Hearts’ first-team squad but is yet to make a competitive debut, has already represented Scotland at Under-15 and Under-17 levels.

City’s recruitment staff saw off late interest from Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion, while Manchester United’s earlier efforts—including a September tour of Carrington for the teenager—proved insufficient to secure his future. With paperwork nearing completion, McMeekin will swap Tynecastle for the Etihad Campus, leaving United to regroup in the market for emerging domestic talent.