Malachi Boateng has joined Heart of Midlothian from Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee.

The 22-year-old defensive midfielder has agreed a three-year deal at Tynecastle.

He goes straight into the Hearts squad with a place on the bench for Saturday's home game with Rangers.

The London-born player has previous experience in Scotland after loans to Queen's Park and Dundee.

Last term, he made 36 appearances for the Dens Park club.

"In Malachi we’ve got a strong, athletic, ball-winning and ball-playing midfielder," head coach Steven Naismith told the club website.

"We’ve done the bulk of our recruitment early but we’re always assessing our differing requirements, and with a couple of players out through injury it’s pushed us to act swiftly."