By Russell Edge

16th Feb, 2021 | 7:01pm

Sources: MLS club agree to sign Findlay from Kilmarnock after Hearts talks

Kilmarnock defender Stuart Findlay has agreed to join MLS side Philadelphia Union after snubbing Hearts, Football Insider understands.

The Scotland international is set to be out of contract at Rugby Park at the end of the season and the Championship leaders had held talks over a pre-contract deal.

However, a recruitment source has told Football Insider the 25-year-old has turned down the Scottish outfit’s interest and is instead set to move stateside after Philadelphia agreed a fee with Killie and contract terms with the centre-back.

The MLS transfer window is currently open ahead of the upcoming 2021 campaign, which is set to kick off in mid-April, with Philadelphia looking to finish top of the eastern conference once again.

Findlay, a graduate of the Celtic youth ranks, first joined Kilmarnock on a season loan from the Hoops back in 2015 before he moved to Newcastle United on a free transfer in 2016.

He struggled for game time during his spell at St James’ Park and made his one and only first-team appearance in an FA Cup win over Birmingham City in 2017.

The defender returned to Killie for another loan spell during the 2017/18 season and ended up turning his temporary stay permanent at the end of the campaign.

Findlay has remained a mainstay at the heart of the Kilmarnock defence and currently has 144 appearances for the club under his belt, 23 of which have come this season.

With a move to Philadelphia in the offing, Findlay’s last appearance is set to be the 2-0 defeat to Livingston back in January after an ankle injury ruled him out of action.

In other news, Frank McAvennie has slaughtered a “pathetic” Celtic star who cannot do the basics right.