Highly-rated winger Jay Henderson – who dazzled on loan at Caley Thistle this year – has been snapped up by Premiership side Ross County.
The 21-year-old, who enjoyed a six-month stint at Championship club Inverness from January, was out of contract at top-flight St Mirren this month.
He returned to Paisley to find out his future, but Buddies boss Stephen Robinson opted to let him go – and County made their move.
The rising star becomes County’s fifth summer signing – and more are in line to follow over the coming week.
Henderson, whose dad Darren played for the Dingwall club in 2000-2001, settled well in the north of Scotland and feels making the switch over the Kessock Bridge to return to Premiership level is a wise move.
In 2021-22, he made a breakthrough at Saints and scored a cracking long-ranger in a 2-1 league win at Dundee United in January 2022, with another County signing this week, Eamonn Brophy, getting the other goal for the victors.
The following month spelled a change of manager at St Mirren when Jim Goodwin left to manager Aberdeen and Robinson replaced him.
Henderson remained involved until the end of the season, but game-time at the start of last term was limited, with just five first-team appearances – all from the bench.
The chance to join Billy Dodds’ Highlanders for a loan spell in January was too good to ignore and his form helped ICT reach the Scottish Cup final and make a late push for the play-offs, which only failed on the final day.
He scored four goals in 21 matches for ICT – and he started every time, including in the 3-1 Scottish Cup final defeat to Celtic on June 3.
Henderson impressed for Inverness
County manager Malky Mackay spoke highly of his latest summer signing.
He said: “Jay is a very exciting young talent that we are delighted to have added to our squad.
“He impressed in his spell in Inverness and was very highly thought of at St Mirren. I know Jay from his time with the Scottish national youth squads and believe we have captured an exciting young talent.”
County have been active in the transfer market, making most of their moves for Scottish players, which is a shift in policy, having looked south of the border in recent years.
As well as St Mirren’s Brophy, Mackay has snapped up Caley Thistle midfielder Scott Allardice, Partick Thistle’s Kyle Turner, their former defender Josh Reid from Coventry City, and Ridditch United middle man Max Sheaf.
There was also a new two-year contract agreed with striker Alex Samuel, who finished the season strongly after his lengthy injury woes. He had spent almost a year out with a cruciate ligament injury.
Departures from the Global Energy Stadium in June have been defenders Keith Watson and Alex Iacovitti, midfielder David Cancola and forward Dominic Samuel.
Iacovitti has joined Port Vale, while ex-skipper Watson has signed for Raith Rovers.
County’s squad have been blasting through double-sessions this week and have pre-season games away to Nairn County next Tuesday then home to Queen’s Park next Saturday.
We can confirm the first of our pre-season friendlies, we will face Nairn County at Station Park, Nairn on Tuesday 4th July at 7:30PM. pic.twitter.com/XhsBczpmMw
— Ross County FC (@RossCounty) June 21, 2023