Ruari Paton Returns to St Johnstone on Permanent Deal

St Johnstone have secured the return of Ruari Paton on a permanent deal, completing a move that always felt inevitable once last season’s loan spell caught fire.

The 25-year-old forward, who struck five goals in 13 Championship appearances during a crucial stint in Perth, has signed on at McDiarmid Park until the summer of 2028 after Port Vale accepted an undisclosed fee.

For Paton, this is less a transfer and more a homecoming.

“The whole feeling of last season was really special and I loved every minute of that achievement,” he told the club’s media, reflecting on a campaign that reshaped his career and deepened his bond with the support.

He spoke like a player who never truly left. “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 sense of belonging ran through his loan spell. Paton was officially a Port Vale player, but his heart had already moved north.

“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,” he said, underlining how quickly he embedded himself in the dressing room and the wider club.

The connection with the stands mattered just as much.

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

St Johnstone now have that feeling tied down until 2028. The goals helped convince them. The chemistry sealed it.