Jefferies and Kyle will be reunited at Tynecastle

Kevin Kyle says he rejected a big-money offer from a club in Greece before signing a two-year contract with Hearts after leaving Kilmarnock.

The 28-year-old Scotland striker will be re-united with manager Jim Jefferies, who took him to Rugby Park.

"I had a lot of offers, including from Greece and Turkey, and the one from Greece was very lucrative," said Kyle.

"But, as soon as JJ phoned, I wanted to push the deal through and couldn't get it signed quickly enough."

Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee this week said that he could not compete with the wages being offered elsewhere to the tall target man, capped 10 times for Scotland.

But Kyle, who ends an 18-month stay at Rugby Park following the completion of his contract, said that personal matters also played a part in his decision.

"I discussed it with my family," he told Hearts' website. "But, to be fair, ever since JJ went to Hearts, I was hoping he would buy me - and, as soon as he phoned, I dropped everything.

He was in demand and I know other SPL clubs were after him Hearts manager Jim Jefferies

"I am over the moon and my little boy was buzzing when I showed him around the stadium.

"I turned down a lot of money to come here, but I look forward to playing for Hearts."

Kyle, who began his career at Sunderland, made nine of his Scotland appearances as a Black Cats player between 2002-04.

His form under Jefferies and assistant Billy Brown after leaving Coventry City earned him a recall in November.

He appeared as a substitute in the 3-0 friendly defeat by Wales, George Burley's last match in charge of the national team, although he was left out of new coach Craig Levein's squad to face Czech Republic in March.

"I went back up the road to Kilmarnock and had a good season and a half under them, so it will be good to team up with them again," he said.

"Hopefully I can do what I did for them at Kilmarnock. I can't wait to get started.

"I got back into the Scotland squad last season and I will be trying to my best to bang on Craig Levein's door.

"If the international thing happens then great, but the priority is to do well with Hearts."

Jefferies, who rejoined Hearts for a second spell as manager in January, has money available to strengthen his squad, having released big earners Laryea Kingston, Jose Goncalves, Michael Stewart and Christian Nade.

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He made a new striker a priority, with the Edinburgh side struggling for goals last season: winger Suso Santana was their top scorer in the league, finding the net six times.

Brentford and Charlton Athletic were options should Kyle have decided to return to English football, but the man who scored 10 goals last season has headed for Tynecastle.

Jefferies said: "He was in demand and I know other SPL clubs were after him and he could have got a lot more money going to Greece, so that just shows how much he wants to play for Hearts.

"I'm confident he will do well for us. He is a threat to defenders and, with the players we have who can deliver the ball from out wide, he will get great service.

"We brought Kevin back to Scotland and got him into the Scotland squad and know just what he can bring to the team and I know for a fact defenders don't like playing against him.

"It's not just the goals he will score, it's the chances he will create for others, which is another positive side to his game."

Kyle becomes Hearts' second summer signing, former Falkirk defender Darren Barr having agreed a move to Tynecastle for next season before Jefferies arrived.

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