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Nathaniel Atkinson completes Hearts transfer exit as Socceroo heads to Melbourne City

Nathaniel Atkinson
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Nathaniel Atkinson has left Hearts to join Melbourne City on a permanent deal.

The Jambos confirmed his exit this morning in a short social media statement as the Australian returns to his homeland after two years in Gorgie. Atkinson, 25, was told by head coach Steven Naismith earlier this summer that he would not be part of his plans for the coming campaign and that sparked a desire from the defender to find a solution for his future as he sought game time in a bid to get back into the Socceroos national side.

But now he has found his exit route as he returns to City where he spent five years before making the move to Scotland's Premiership in 2022 with Hearts.

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Their statement read: "Nathaniel Atkinson has left Hearts to join Melbourne City. The full-back makes the move back to the A-League side on a permanent basis. Everyone at Hearts thanks Nathaniel for his time at the club and wishes him well for the future."

Atkinson was not named in the club's Conference League squad.