Beni Baningime
9th September 199829th July 202131st July 2021Hearts completed the permanent signing of Beni Baningime from Everton in July 2021.
The then 22-year-old moved to Tynecastle Park on a three-year-deal for an undisclosed fee.
Highly-rated Beni joined the Jambos after making quite an impact with the Goodison Park side’s academy teams, leading to appearances in the Premier League.
Born in the DR Congo, Beni entered the Toffee’s youth system aged 9. Twice a Premier League 2 winner with Everton’s U23s, he made his first team debut in a League Cup encounter against Chelsea in 2017 and shortly followed it up with a Premier League debut against Leicester City.
He featured 12 times for Everton’s first team and enjoyed loan spells with Wigan Athletic and Derby County.
After an outstanding debut season in maroon, which was sadly curtailed in March 2022 following an ACL tear against Livingston, he spent the following campaign building up his fitness before making a triumphant return at the outset of 2023/24 where he became a regular performer again.
His performances were rewarded with a two-year extension at the end of that campaign.