James Penrice, born on 22nd December 1998 in Scotland, is a 26-year-old defender who primarily represents Hearts Football Club as a left back. He stands at a height of 5 foot 10 inches (1.78m) and boasts a weight of 11 stone 6 pounds (73kg). He dons the number 29 jersey for his current club.
Born and bred in Scotland, Penrice kick-started his professional career in 2015, when Partick Thistle brought him into their springboard programme in the Scottish Championship. While his debut season might not have been lofty in terms of appearances, having only featured a brace of times in league matches, it was an essential stepping stone in giving this young talent a taste of professional football.
To hone his skills further, Penrice was loaned to League Two outfit East Fife in December 2016, where he made a noteworthy 18 appearances in league matches. The more significant experience was garnered during his loan spell at Livingston, starting in August 2017. During his tenure there, he managed to start in 13 league matches and even scored a goal. His performance saw an uptick during the 2022-2023 season, where he started in 29 league matches and netted thrice. The following season saw him maintain his consistent performance on the field, featuring in 24 league matches for the club.
Penrice's current market value hovers around the £1m mark, as per Transfermarkt, a testament to the development he showed while plying his trade in the lower tiers of Scottish football. His contract with Hearts is valid till 31st May 2027, providing him a reasonable time to establish himself further.
After a series of loans back and forth between Partick Thistle and Livingston, Penrice eventually made a permanent switch to Livingston in July 2021. Noteworthy performances continued into the tenure, scoring once during 13 matches in 2017-2018 and netting three in 29 during 2022-2023.
The Scottish Premiership stage was set for Penrice when he transferred from Livingston to Hearts in July 2024. From then to the current season of 2024-2025, he has managed 20 starts in league matches and found the back of the net twice. His contribution extends beyond the domestic front, having experienced European action in the Europa League qualifiers and Conference League for Hearts, with a combined total of eight appearances involving five starts and a substitute play.
While Penrice's journey hasn't seen him turn out for Celtic, he has undoubtedly carved out a respectable career for himself in Scottish football. Who knows what the future might hold?
