Ruari Paton Returns to St Johnstone Until 2028

Ruari Paton is back where he always felt he belonged.

St Johnstone have completed the permanent signing of the forward from Port Vale for an undisclosed fee, tying the 25-year-old to McDiarmid Park on a deal until the summer of 2028.

Paton returns after a hugely impressive loan spell in Perth, where he struck five goals in 13 Championship appearances and played a key role in a season that felt transformative for the club.

This is not a fresh start so much as a continuation. Paton never really left in his own mind.

“The whole feeling of last season was really special and I loved every minute of that achievement,” he told the club’s media, still clearly energised by what was built over the campaign.

He spoke like a player who had already made his decision long ago.

“I actually loved every single thing about the club. The place, the people. I always felt happy here and I wanted to come back.

“I never felt like I was on loan. I built a connection with the guys on the pitch and never had a bad interaction with anyone off it.

“I feel I have a great connection with the supporters too and everyone who works in the building. It feels like home.”

For St Johnstone, securing Paton on a long-term contract is more than a tidy piece of business. It is a statement that last season’s surge was not a one-off, that the club intend to carry that momentum into the Premiership with familiar faces leading the line.

For Paton, it is the chance to turn a special few months into the prime years of his career, in a place he already calls home.