Take a moment to fathom Mr Barrie McKay, born on Scotland's shores on the 31st of December 1994, a forward primarily plying his trade as a left winger for the fascinatingly named Hearts. At a towering 5ft 8in (1.75m) and a steady 11st 6lb (73kg), he dons the revered No.10 jersey for his side. With an estimated market value bobbing around £700k, Transfermarkt weighs in as a voice in the crowd. McKay seems to be on borrowed time as his contract at Hearts is set to run dry on the 31st of May 2025.
Turning back the clock to the warm July of 2011, a green around the gills McKay joined Rangers as a trainee. After a single appearance in league matches during his 2011 debut season, McKay slowly picked up the pace making 31 first team appearances and scoring one goal in the 2012 - 2013 season. The next season, 2013 - 2014, saw McKay's game time shorten with just two appearances to his name.
Changes are afoot when McKay packed his bags and was loaned to Greenock Morton in the Championship in December 2013. McKay enjoyed a decent amount of playing time here, making 18 first team appearances and knocking in three goals in the 2013 - 2014 season. The merry-go-round saw McKay return to the shores of Rangers, on completion of his loan, in the summer of 2014, jolly with confidence. After a notable spell, including 34 appearances and six goals in the 2015 - 2016 season and 35 first team appearances with five goals in the 2016 - 2017 season, the winds of change shift again.
With the transfer train taking him south, McKay departed Rangers in July 2017 for Nottingham Forest in England with a fee that tickled around the £500k mark. During the 2017 - 2018 season, McKay featured regularly with 26 appearances and five goals under his belt. Again, he was promptly shipped off to Swansea City in the Championship in July 2018 for a similar fee. A strong season with 30 appearances and two goals was followed by a quieter one featuring just four appearances.
In the brisk winter of January 2020, McKay found himself on loan at Fleetwood Town in League Two, before eventually finding his way back to Scotland with Hearts in September 2021. His Hearts career took off with 33 appearances and two goals in his first season, followed by 37 appearances and four goals the next season. The current season, 2024 - 2025, has seen McKay feature eight times for the Hearts' first team.
Beyond league play, McKay's presence has been felt elsewhere. Most notably in the League Cup 2024 - 2025, Scottish Cup 2023 - 2024, and Conference League 2024 - 2025 for Hearts, where he made cameos, starting once and subbing in once.
