Former Lincoln City midfielder Mark O’Hara has returned to Kilmarnock on a two-year deal after leaving St Mirren.
The Scottish Premiership side has confirmed the signing, subject to SFA approval, with O’Hara heading back to the club where his senior career began. He made his Kilmarnock debut as a 16-year-old in 2012 and went on to make 87 appearances before leaving Rugby Park four years later.
O’Hara’s final outing in his first spell came in Kilmarnock’s 2016 Scottish Premiership play-off win against Falkirk. A decade on, he is back as part of Neil McCann’s squad, having departed St Mirren at the end of his contract in Paisley.
His time with Lincoln was brief, but successful. O’Hara joined the Imps on loan from Peterborough United during the second half of the 2018/19 season, giving Danny Cowley another strong midfield option as City chased promotion from League Two. He made 17 league appearances, scored once, and helped Lincoln finish the campaign as champions, six points clear at the top.
O’Hara’s only Lincoln goal came in the vital win against Yeovil, a result that proved important during the final stretch of the title race. He brought size, drive and aggression to the midfield, fitting into a side that had already built its identity around hard running, discipline and set-piece threat.
Before arriving at Sincil Bank, O’Hara had started his career with Kilmarnock, making his league debut in a 2-0 win at Celtic Park in October 2012. That result was Killie’s first victory at Celtic since 1955, and O’Hara’s early years saw him used in a variety of roles, including defensive positions.
He moved to Dundee in 2016, where Paul Hartley pushed him further forward. The change gave him more of a goalscoring edge, and he became known for his performances against Rangers, scoring four times against them at Dens Park. That form earned him a move to Peterborough United in 2018, where he began with three goals in his first two league matches.
After his loan spell with Lincoln, O’Hara returned to Scotland with Motherwell, initially on loan and then permanently. He later joined St Mirren in 2022, becoming an important figure in Paisley and eventually the club captain. During his time there, St Mirren secured three top-six finishes and lifted the Premier Sports Cup in December 2025.
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