Malachi Boateng, hailing from England, born on 5 July 2002, is currently a central defensive midfielder for Hearts. Standing 5ft 11in (1.82m) tall and weighing in at 11st (70kg), Boateng dons the number 18 jersey on the field. As a player in the prime of his career, the 22-year-old has an established market value of roughly £382,000, according to Transfermarkt. He is committed to wearing the maroon of Hearts till 31 May 2027, with his contract having about two years and seven months left.
Boateng's journey in football started with Crystal Palace in the Premier League, where he joined as a trainee in July 2012. Not immediate first-team material at a Premier League club, Boateng got his first taste of senior football during a loan spell to the Championship side, Queen's Park, in August 2022. At Queen's, he made 34 appearances and bagged two goals in his debut 2022 - 2023 season. For a defensively inclined midfielder, this was a solid return.
Following this, in July 2023, Boateng transferred to Dundee, still on loan from Crystal Palace. During the 2023 - 2024 season at Dundee in the Scottish Premiership, he clocked up another 32 first-team appearances. This move demonstrated his ability to compete in a higher division and attract attention from other clubs aspiring to solidify their midfield.
In the summer of August 2024, Hearts managed to secure Boateng's services on a permanent deal. The transfer fee remains undisclosed, but based on his market value at the time, one can surmise that Hearts saw value in investing in the then 22-year-old midfielder. So far, in the ongoing 2024 - 2025 season, Boateng has already made 13 first-team appearances and his growing importance for the club is apparent.
Boateng has also gained a taste of cup and European adventures with Hearts. He has started a match in the League Cup 2024 - 2025, two Europa League qualifier games, and a couple in the Conference League 2024 - 2025, indicating that Hearts trust him in high-stakes matches and adding valuable experience to his resume.
