Kelty Hearts have completed a third signing of the January transfer window by snapping up Arbroath midfielder Arran Pettifer.
The 22-year-old has made the move from Angus to Fife, on a permanent basis, until the end of the season after he and the Lichties agreed to terminate his contract.
Stockport-born Pettifer joined the Bolton Wanderers academy at the age of seven and came through the ranks at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
He made his senior debut for the Whites in a 4-1 win over Liverpool's under-21s, featuring players such as Jarell Quansah and Nat Phillips, currently playing for Bayern Leverkusen and West Bromwich Albion respectively, in 2021.
🇱🇻PETTIFER CHECKS IN AT NCP🇱🇻
We are pleased to announce the signing of midfielder Arran Pettifer, who joins the club from William Hill Championship outfit @ArbroathFC on a deal until the end of the season.
The 22 year old Englishman progressed through the youth ranks of Bolton… pic.twitter.com/1Oqu7wmXAO— Kelty Hearts Football Club 🇱🇻 (@KeltyHeartsFC) January 14, 2026
The following year, Pettifer went on to sign his first professional contract with Wanderers, and had loan spells with Atherton Collieries and Warrington Town, before leaving for League of Ireland side, St Patrick's Athletic, in February 2024.
However, just six months later, he was on the move again, this time to Northern Irish outfit, Cliftonville .
In May last year, Pettifer departed at the end of his contract, having made 27 appearances for the Belfast-based club, scoring once.
He went on to sign a one-year contract with Arbroath in the summer, following the Gayfield club's promotion to the Championship as League One title winners.
Pettifer made his debut in a scoreless Premier Sports Cup group stage draw at home to the tournament's eventual winners, St Mirren, one of 16 appearances he made for the Lichties.
One of those came against Kelty last month, in a 3-2 KDM Evolution Trophy tie victory, in which he netted an equaliser, before Dapo Mebude won it for David Gold and Colin Hamilton's team.
That was one of five goals he scored for the Gayfield side - the others coming against Airdrieonians and a hat-trick against Annan Athletic, in the Premier Sports Cup - before he and the club agreed to mutually terminate his contract.
That has allowed Tam O'Ware to step in and bring him to New Central Park, following on from the loan signings of central defenders, Sam Fisher and Dylan Corr, from Dunfermline and Morton respectively.
"I tried signing Arran in the summer," O'Ware revealed.
"I'm delighted to get him in this window. He has great technical ability and will only get better with more minutes under his belt.
"I am excited to work with him."
Arbroath added: "Arbroath FC and Arran Pettifer have agreed to mutually terminate the midfielder’s contract.
𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬
Arbroath FC and Arran Pettifer have agreed to mutually terminate the midfielder’s contract.
Everyone at Arbroath Football Club wishes Arran all the best in his future career as he joins Kelty Hearts. #ArbroathFCLive #MonTheLichties #Resurgence pic.twitter.com/lvgJWxkH3J— Arbroath FC (@ArbroathFC) January 14, 2026
"Everyone at Arbroath Football Club wishes Arran all the best in his future career as he joins Kelty Hearts."
Pettifer could make his Kelty debut this Saturday, when they host League One rivals, Cove Rangers, in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
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