October 9th 2026
We are delighted to announce our first signing of the close season in the form of young defender, Leo Walker.
The 18-year-old joins the squad having been released by Inverness CT following their League One title success. He has agreed a two-year contract at Station Park, committing himself to the club until the end of the 2027/28 season.
The powerful left-sided player came all the way through the youth ranks at the Caledonian Stadium, forcing his way to the fringes of the first team picture and now prepares to step into the Highland League for the first time.
The local youngster from Auldearn also boosts the number of home-based players in Manager Wayne Mackintosh’s squad, with the boss pleased to have added his first capture of the summer.
He said: “Adding Leo to the squad gives us a bit of flexibility tactically because he is naturally left-sided and can play in a few different positions and systems.
“He is still only young but he is a strong, powerful lad, good in the air and is a bit of an old school defender – he takes care of defending first and foremost, which is really important once you get into the depths of a Highland League season.
“I think he will be really well suited to Highland League and although he is still young and there is undoubtedly more to come from him over the next few years, he looks like he is ready to step into this level of football and he will get that opportunity here.
“He can play at left back or as a left-sided centre half, so with Callum Maclean’s retirement, it helps us to cover some of that loss and will free up some of the players who filled in at left back last season to play in their more natural positions.”
He added: “We tried to get Leo in last summer but the youth age groups brackets at Inverness CT’s level were adjusted, giving him another year with them and we were also unable to take him on loan, so we are really pleased to have finally brought him to the club and we are all looking forward to working with him.”
Leo spent his entire youth career at Inverness CT, joining the club while at primary school. He progressed through the ranks and featured against us for Scott Kellacher’s first team in friendly matches at Station Park over the last couple of seasons.
The defender has a strong family connection to the club and football in Nairn, with his grandfather, Jim, spending time in coaching roles both at Station Park and at Nairn St Ninian, culminating in his time as Manager between 1997 and 1999 before returning to a youth coaching position in the early 2000s.
During Jim’s time as Manager, Leo’s father, Lee, also played for us at the start of his Highland League career before going on to manage Nairn St Ninian himself during the 2021/22 season.
Leo’s brother Jack, also spent time playing for us on loan from Inverness CT during the 2024/25 campaign.
If you wish to sponsor any of Leo’s three kits for the new season, drop us an email to info@nairncountyfc.co.uk or send us a message on Social Media.
Image by Kenny Macleod Photography.
