Ruari Paton Returns to St Johnstone on Permanent Deal

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, rewarding a loan spell that turned into something far more meaningful than a short-term fix. The 25-year-old has committed his future to the Perth club with a deal running until the summer of 2028.

Five goals in 13 Championship appearances only tell part of the story. Paton arrived on loan and quickly played like a man who expected to be around for a while. His movement gave Saints a focal point, his finishing added a cutting edge, and his energy knitted together a side that needed belief as much as it needed goals.

By the end of the campaign, it never really felt like a temporary arrangement – and Paton admits as much.

"The whole feeling of last season was really special and I loved every minute of that achievement," he told the club’s media, still riding the emotional current of a campaign that reshaped his career. He spoke like a player who had already made his choice long before the paperwork caught up.

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

That happiness showed. On the pitch, he played with the freedom of someone unburdened by uncertainty. Off it, he embedded himself quickly, a regular, visible presence rather than a loanee passing through.

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

For a club like St Johnstone, that kind of fit matters. They cannot afford many mistakes in recruitment, especially in attacking areas, and Paton arrives with the rare combination of familiarity and upside. The coaching staff know exactly what they are getting; the supporters already know why it matters.

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

Home now comes with higher stakes. The Premiership awaits, and with a long-term contract in his pocket, Paton moves from short-term spark to central figure. The next question is no longer whether he belongs at McDiarmid Park.

It is how far he can help take them.