St Johnstone have been active in the 2026 summer transfer window, bringing in nine new players while eleven have left the Scottish Championship club. Sky Sports reported the club's business on Tuesday 25 August 2026, with the window set to close at 5pm UK time on September 3rd.
The squad overhaul comes as the Saints prepare for their next fixture, a home match against Dundee United on 17 October 2026. The club's top scorer this season, Stevie Mallan, is among those who have departed after netting two goals in eleven appearances. You can track the team's upcoming schedule on our fixtures page.
Who has joined St Johnstone?
The club has secured a mix of free agents, loan signings, and one permanent fee-based transfer. Daniel Finlayson, Matty Todd, Unax Álvarez de Eulate, Logan Chalmers, and Enes Alic all arrived as free agents. Macaulay Tait joined from Hearts for an undisclosed fee.
Three loan deals were also completed. Zach Mitchell arrived from Charlton Athletic, Toby Steward from Portsmouth, and Ruari Paton from Port Vale on a loan-to-permanent arrangement. This influx of talent aims to refresh the squad for the challenges ahead.
Which players have left the club?
Eleven players are no longer with St Johnstone following the end of their contracts or loan spells. Fran Franczak, Scott Bright, Jonathan Svedberg, Reghan Tumilty, and Stevie Mallan all departed upon the expiry of their deals. Josh McPake also left at the end of his contract and subsequently signed for Hearts.
Four loan spells concluded, with Adam Forrester, Alfredo Agyeman, Ruari Paton, and Toby Steward returning to their parent clubs. Additionally, Ross Sinclair's loan at St Mirren from St Johnstone has ended. The full composition of the current playing staff is available on our squad page.
How does this reshape the squad?
This transfer activity represents a significant refresh for manager Craig Levein. The departure of top scorer Mallan creates an immediate need for goals from the new attacking recruits like Paton and Alic. The defensive unit has also been rebuilt with the additions of Finlayson, Mitchell, and Steward.
The midfield sees considerable change with the arrivals of Todd, Álvarez de Eulate, Chalmers, and Tait. Their task will be to control games and supply the forwards. This level of turnover suggests a clear strategic shift is underway at McDiarmid Park as the club builds for the future.
What are the immediate challenges?
Integrating nine new signings quickly is the primary task. The new players must adapt to the manager's system and the demands of the Scottish Championship. The team's next match against Dundee United will be an early test of the revised squad's cohesion.
Finding a consistent source of goals is another key challenge following Mallan's exit. The club will hope the new attacking options can contribute immediately. Fans can follow individual player contributions through the season on our stats page. The business conducted this summer sets the foundation for St Johnstone's campaign, with the focus now turning to performance on the pitch.
