Kevin Kyle rejects big money move to join Hearts

• Kevin Kyle: Had a 'lot of offers'. Picture: SNS

The player's arrival continues the re-vamping of Jefferies' squad, with Darren Barr having already signed a pre-contract from Falkirk. Kyle's addition had been touted but the striker rejected the additional notes of interest from Aberdeen and Charlton Athletic to join up again with Jefferies. He was also a target for clubs in Greece.

"He was in demand and I know other Scottish Premier League clubs were after him," Jefferies told the Hearts website last night. "He could have got a lot more money going to Greece, so that just shows how much he wants to play for Hearts."

The ten-times capped Scotland internationalist passed a medical on Wednesday and signed a deal with the Tynecastle club night. The move prolongs his stay in Scotland, after Jefferies lured him north of the border from Coventry City in January 2009. Kyle went on to score 23 goals in 49 games for Kilmarnock but had a latterly difficult relationship with the Rugby Park club, although he helped them avoid relegation to the First Division last season. At the start of this year he claimed in a newspaper article that he had been approached by Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston for a private assessment of Jefferies' tactics. He also criticised the lack of a club doctor.

But Jefferies was first to exit Rugby Park, leaving just weeks later by "mutual consent". Kyle again fell out with the club and angered Jimmy Calderwood, Jefferies' successor, having departed for a trial with Russian club Spartak Nalchik without the manager's permission. But he returned to the team and scored the winner in a vital 2-1 win at Aberdeen, on the second last day of the season. It looked at one point as though he might be on his way to the Pittodrie club when his contract at Kilmarnock expired. But family concerns – he has a young son in Sunderland – and a desire to work with Jefferies again has convinced Kyle, who turns 29 on Monday, to continue his career in Edinburgh.

"As soon as JJ phoned I wanted to push the deal through and I couldn't get it signed quickly enough," said Kyle last night. "I had a lot of offers from clubs including ones in Greece and Turkey and the one in Greece was very lucrative. I discussed it with my family but to be honest, as soon as JJ came to Hearts I was always hoping he would bring me here. As soon as he phoned me I dropped everything and hopefully now I can go on and do the business for him and Hearts." He added: "I turned down a lot of money to come here but I am looking forward to my career at Tynecastle. I regard this as step up in my career."

Kyle is determined to catch the eye of Scotland manager Craig Levein, after being brought back into the international fold by George Burley last year. His last international appearance was the 3-0 defeat to Wales in November, Burley's last game before being sacked.

"My first priority is to do well for Hearts and then if the international thing happens then great," said Kyle. "I am over the moon, and my little boy was buzzing as I showed him around the stadium this afternoon. My message to the fans is forget the season that has just past and I will be trying to help Hearts get back where they should be in Scottish football."

Jefferies led Hearts into the top six last season, after taking over from Csaba Laszlo in January. He believes Kyle will bring another dimension to the side's play.

"It has taken a while to get everything sorted out but I am delighted he has decided to join the club and I'm confident he will do well for us," the manager said. "He is a threat for 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."