St Johnstone Signs Ruari Paton Permanently Until 2028

St Johnstone have completed the permanent signing of Ruari Paton, bringing the forward back to McDiarmid Park after his impressive loan spell last season.

The 25-year-old returns from Port Vale for an undisclosed fee and has committed his future to the Perth club with a contract running until the summer of 2028.

Paton struck five goals in 13 Championship appearances during his short stint, but his impact went well beyond the numbers. He arrived as a mid-season addition and quickly turned into a key figure in St Johnstone’s survival push, adding sharp movement, aggression in the press and a calm touch in front of goal.

The bond formed quickly. Paton spoke of last season as “really special” and made no secret of how much he enjoyed being part of the club’s late surge, describing how he “loved every single thing about the club” – from the dressing room to the wider staff around the stadium.

He never truly felt like a temporary addition. The Irishman described how he built a connection with his team-mates on the pitch and stressed that he “never had a bad interaction with anyone off it”, a telling line for a player who clearly bought into the environment Callum Davidson and his staff created.

The supporters played their part as well. Paton believes he has a “great connection” with the fans and everyone working in the building, and that sense of belonging underpinned his desire to return. “It feels like home,” he said, summing up why a permanent deal always felt like the natural next step once the season ended.

For St Johnstone, tying him down until 2028 is a statement that the club intend to build, not just survive, in the Premiership. For Paton, it is a chance to turn a memorable loan spell into something far more enduring in Perth.