Liam Boyce: Northern Ireland international joins Derry City from Hearts

Northern Ireland international Liam Boyce has joined League of Ireland side Derry City from Hearts on a two-year deal.

The 33-year-old striker’s arrival is a major boost for Tiernan Lynch, who begins his first season in charge of the Candystripes on 14 February.

Boyce had been with Hearts since January 2020, scoring 36 goals in 120 games as he helped the Edinburgh club earn promotion back to the Scottish Premiership in 2021.

He also played in the 2020 and 2022 Scottish Cup finals – and scored in the former as Hearts lost to Celtic – but his progress in recent seasons has been stalled by knee and hamstring injuries.

The Belfast-born forward began his career at Cliftonville, where he won two Irish Premiership titles and was named Ulster Footballer of the Year in 2013.

Boyce joined Ross County in 2014 and ended the 2016-17 as the Scottish Premiership’s leading scorer with 23 goals.

He also had a three-year spell with Burton Albion before joining Hearts.

Boyce broke into the Northern Ireland team in 2011 but earned the last of his 28 caps in 2021.

Lynch said that bringing in Boyce was a “serious coup” for the club.

“You only have to look at Liam’s record in England and Scotland over the last 10 years to see the quality that he brings. He’s a proven goalscorer and a great addition for us,” Lynch told the club’s website.

He is the second Northern Ireland international to join the Brandywell club in recent weeks after Shane Ferguson, who signed a one-year deal in December.

Under Lynch, who left Larne to replace Ruaidhri Higgins as boss in November, Derry have also recruited goalkeeper Arlo Doherty while Patrick McEleney, Will Patching, Daniel Kelly and Tadhg Ryan have left.