Chris Hamilton (footballer, born 2001)

Chris Hamilton (born 13 July 2001) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for club Dunfermline Athletic.

Early life
Hamilton grew up as a Dunfermline Athletic fan.

Club career
Hamilton moved from Crossgates Primrose to Heart of Midlothian at the age of 8.

He made his senior debut for Hearts on 13 May 2018, in a 1–0 league defeat away at Kilmarnock. He was one of four Hearts youth players to make their debuts in that match, alongside Cammy Logan, Leeroy Makovora and Connor Smith.

Hamilton joined Scottish League One side Dumbarton on loan in September 2020. Hamilton scored his first senior goal for the Sons on his full debut, in a 3–2 defeat to Clyde on 10 October 2020, a match in which he was also sent off. On 8 January 2021, Hamilton joined Scottish League Two side Stirling Albion on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.

In July 2021 he was loaned to Scottish Championship club Arbroath.

In June 2022 Hamilton signed for his boyhood club Dunfermline Athletic on a long term deal. He was named vice captain as the season began and the team achieved an immediate return to the Championship, winning League One in April 2023.

International career
Hamilton was captain of the Scotland under-16 Victory Shield squad. He has also represented Scotland at under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 youth levels.

Selected for the Scotland under-21 squad in the 2018 Toulon Tournament, the team lost to Turkey in a penalty-out and finished fourth.

Honours
Dunfermline Athletic
 * Scottish League One: 2022–23