Two 17-year-olds, goalkeeper Jack Lyon and midfielder Charlie Sanders, have agreed one-year deals to stay with Hearts while they continue their development and chase Youth Cup silverware
The Heart of Midlothian academy has secured two of its most promising talents for another season, with Jack Lyon and Charlie Sanders committing their futures to the club until the summer of 2027. Both players are 17 and have been integral to the B team setup, gaining valuable minutes in the Lowland League.
The club confirmed the deals as part of a wider focus on bridging the gap between youth football and the first team, ensuring that homegrown prospects can continue to train and develop within the club’s pathway.
Those signings come with immediate targets: the youngsters will travel to Hampden for the upcoming Youth Cup Final, representing the Wee Jambos after a season that saw them play regularly in men’s football.
Their progress has been overseen at the club’s training base in Riccarton, where Angus Beith and Lee Wallace lead the youth coaching operation. The extensions are designed to give both players continuity and the best chance to push into senior football while the coaching staff evaluate their readiness for greater first-team involvement.
Why the club moved to extend their deals
Hearts described the new agreements as one-year extensions that protect the duo’s future with the club and reward consistent performances for the B team. The decision reflects a strategic emphasis on promoting from within: by keeping promising academy graduates close to the senior environment, the club hopes to increase opportunities for young players to experience matchday routines and training at a higher level. For Lyon and Sanders, the contract renewals provide continuity of development, meaning they can focus on refining their games with familiar coaches and colleagues rather than facing upheaval at a formative stage of their careers.
Seasonal contributions and on-field impact
Both players were regulars over the course of the campaign. As a central midfielder, Charlie Sanders made 16 appearances in the Lowland League, showing the consistency and physical resilience required to perform in men’s football while still at academy age. His progress has been particularly notable given earlier setbacks; despite injuries and limited minutes in prior seasons, he has displayed an attitude and work ethic that persuaded coaches to extend his contract. That steady return to form underlines the value of patient development inside a structured pathway.
In goal, Jack Lyon provided reliability and leadership between the posts, racking up 22 matches in the division and even captaining the side in the final Saturday fixture at Cowdenbeath. Lyon’s experience goes beyond the B team: he has been included in first-team matchday squads and has worked alongside senior goalkeepers Alexander Schwolow and Ryan Fulton in training sessions, gaining exposure to a higher standard of coaching and day-to-day routines. That blend of match minutes and first-team proximity has been central to the club’s rationale for offering him an extended stay.
The Lowland League as a development platform
The Lowland League has become a key testing ground for Hearts’ youth prospects, providing competitive fixtures against experienced senior sides and offering a bridge between academy matches and professional football. For players like Lyon and Sanders, the division presents a chance to adapt to the physicality and tactical demands of men’s games while still benefiting from the club’s coaching structure at Riccarton. This season’s runs in the league, combined with the upcoming Youth Cup Final at Hampden, give the pair a mix of sustained league exposure and high-pressure knockout experience.
Coaches’ reflections and next steps
Angus Beith praised both players for their attitude and resilience, highlighting Lyon’s enthusiasm and ability to respond to setbacks, and Sanders’ determination to overcome injury-related interruptions. Beith noted that each has qualities that make them enjoyable to coach and that the club will support their progression through targeted training and increased first-team involvement where feasible. The coaching staff emphasised that with a large senior squad this season, opportunities were limited; the new contracts are intended to create a clearer runway for both players over the coming 12 months.
With the contract paperwork completed, attention now shifts to finishing the campaign on a high note by contesting the Youth Cup Final and continuing individual development plans at Riccarton. The club statement underlined that both players will build on the experience they have gained, aiming to convert promising youth careers into meaningful first-team breakthroughs. Supporters will watch with interest as Lyon and Sanders aim to turn youth potential into senior availability for Hearts in seasons to come.
