Heart of Midlothian

Image source, SNS

Hearts have beaten Scottish Premiership rivals St Mirren 3-1 in the Edinburgh side's first pre-season friendly under new head coach Wouter Vrancken.

It was St Mirren's second game since former caretaker Craig McLeish was given the job permanently, the Paisley side having beaten Championship team 4-2 on Saturday.

Midfielder Sander Kartum, forward Rogers Mato and James Wilson, the 19-year-old striker who was on loan to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season, scored Hearts' goals at their training camp in Spain.

St Mirren's goal came from 18-year-old substitute left-back Thomas Falconer.

Jacob Chapman, who signed earlier in the day from Huddersfield Town, started in goal for the Buddies along with two summer midfield signings - Samuel Ramos, previously of Zemplin Michalovce and Ryan Carr, who arrived from Ipswich Town).

Former Airdrieonians midfielder Chris Mochrie was among the substitutes.

Wilson started up front for Hearts along with Sabri Guendouz, the new signing from Beerschot, while MJ Kamson-Kamara, the defender signed from Lincoln City and midfielder Yan Dhanda, who has returned from his loan to Dundee, also started.

Former Versailles midfielder Tom Renaud, ex-St Johnstone winger Josh McPake and Calvin Miller, the winger signed from Falkirk, were among the substitutes.

Image source, Heart of Midlothian FC

Ageu has promised he will soon be back in full training with Hearts after an injury-plagued first season at Tynecastle for the Brazilian midfielder.

The 24-year-old managed only seven appearances last season following his summer move from Santa Clara for a club record fee.

He has not played since suffering a thigh muscle injury, which required surgery, while making his first start against Rangers in February.

Speaking to Hearts TV at the Edinburgh club's Spanish training camp, Ageu said: "It's so good to be back on the pitch. It's good to be back doing exercises with the ball and soon I'll be back with the guys."

Ageu was signed after impressing on loan from Portuguese top-flight club Santa Clara as he helped second-tier Alverca win promotion with 11 goal contributions.

Having picked up hamstring injuries making his Hearts debut as a substitute against Livingston in the Scottish Premiership and then against Dundee United in November, he played little part in last season's title challenge under Derek McInnes.

Now Ageu has to impress a new head coach, Wouter Vrancken, but predicted: "This season is going to be good for everyone.

"Everything is new now. I am motivated for it and the challenge."

Image source, Heart of Midlothian FC

Cormac Daly aims "to prove once again that I can handle coming to a massive club" after the 19-year-old winger signed for Hearts following his exit from Nottingham Forest.

The Scotland Under-18 cap, who has agreed a two-year contract, joined the Premier League club three years ago after coming through Hamilton Academical's youth system.

He could not break into the first team there or in his first loan spell with Lincoln City, but in the last six months of last season he played 24 times, scoring three times and contributing one assist, as Hereford finished 20th of 24 teams in National League North.

"I enjoyed my time at Nottingham Forest," Daly told Hearts' website. "It was three years of my life that went by fast, but being there, away from home, helped me to develop both on and off the pitch.

"Going out on loan was a big thing for me too in terms of being able to get a taste of senior football. I enjoyed it.

"Moving to England three years ago was a step up for me, but I'd like to think I proved I could handle it, so the challenge is now to prove once again that I can handle coming to a massive club like Hearts."

Asked what Hearts fans can expect from him, Daly added: "I'd say I'm direct, quick, just a bit of flair, just a really attacking winger really."

Image source, Malcolm Mackenzie/Getty Images

New Hearts striker Amadou Ba-Sy will miss the club's pre-season camp in Spain due to illness.

The 25-year-old joined from French third-tier club FC Rouen this month but will stay in Scotland and continue some fitness work at Hearts' Oriam training base.

Despite suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon, Craig Halkett is part of the travelling group which includes Hearts' six other new signings.

Last season's Premiership runners-up are in Spain for seven days of warm weather training under new head coach Wouter Vrancken.

Image source, SNS

Hearts have confirmed new head coach Wouter Vrancken's backroom team, who will join the club's pre-season camp in Spain.

Belgian pair Tim Smolders and Cederique Tulleners will link up with the squad as Vrancken's assistant coaches.

Smolders was most recently assistant to Belgian manager Karel Geraerts at Stade Reims in Ligue 2 in France, having also worked with him at Schalke and Union Saint-Gilloise.

The 45-year-old featured for the likes of Club Brugge, Gent and Cercle Brugge as a player.

Tulleners, meanwhile, joins after a spell with Cercle Brugge's second team, having also coached Lithuania's under-21s and under-19s.

The 35-year-old also had spells in China and Saudi Arabia.

Hearts start their season away to Sturm Graz next month in Champions League qualifying.

Image source, SNS

Celtic have added former Hearts coach Ross Grant to Martin O'Neill's coaching staff for the upcoming campaign.

Having already confirmed the return of Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham to O'Neill's backroom team, the club say Grant will have a particular focus on set piece analysis and coaching.

The lifelong Celtic fan joins the Scottish champions from last season's title rivals Hearts where he was an important part of their coaching team as they finished second in the top flight.

Manager Martin O'Neill told club media: "I am really pleased to welcome Ross to our backroom staff, I know he is a highly rated coach and look forward to working with him."

Image source, SNS

Kazakhstan winger Islam Chesnokov has returned to his homeland to sign for former club Tobol on a permanent deal after just six months with Hearts.

The 26-year-old had signed a three-year contract with the Scottish Premiership club last summer after leaving Tobol.

Chesnokov had signed a pre-contract agreement with Hearts last summer, but they were made to wait until January for his arrival after the clubs failed to agree a transfer fee.

However, he made just 11 appearances for Hearts, six of them as a substitute, as the Edinburgh club fell just short of winning the Scottish title for the first time since 1960.

Chesnokov, who has 26 international caps, started his career with Altai Semey and had a spell in Belarus with Belshina Bobruisk before two years with Tobol, helping them win the Kazakhstan Cup in 2025.

We asked for your thoughts after Hearts confirmed the appointment of Wouter Vrancken as their new head coach.

Here's what some of you had to say:

John: After last season there's only one way to go, onwards and upwards!

Ken: Scotland's manager of the year replaced by Belgium's. I doubt we could have done much better than that.

SJ: If he's attack-minded, willing to use the entire squad and can make a substitution before the 88th minute then he's a big upgrade.

Bill: Seems ideal. Good track record, but less than a month for a crucial Champions League game. Wish him and the staff well.

Ross: Looking forward to this new era at Hearts. Wouter sounds like a great fit for us and I can't wait to see what he brings.

Neil: Looks a very interesting appointment, clearly has something to offer! Expectations are high with the Hearts supporters, another season like the last one and possibly a cup win would be great.

David: I am delighted with this appointment and can't wait to see how he does. Like many people I had never heard of him, but he seems a perfect fit for us. Exciting times and I am way more optimistic now than I was two weeks ago. Buckle your seats, it's going to be an exciting ride. Onwards and upwards.

Bruce: Sounds like an interesting appointment, definitely not a boring one by all accounts! Seems to fit the Hearts 'mould' of exciting and attacking play. Good!

Bob: Hope he's up to scratch and gets the supporters on side.

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Sporting director Graeme Jones outlined why analytics was crucial in identifying Hearts' new head coach Wouter Vrancken quickly.

The 47-year-old Belgian takes charge at Tynecastle just over a week after Derek McInnes departed for Rangers.

"We obviously have the support of the analytics side to flag up the best candidates, but Wouter was definitely a standout within that," Jones said.

"It's the same way it works with players. They give us clarity as to what decision making needs to be. And then from there, it's up to us to make sure the human process comes out on top."

Jones had an online meeting with Vrancken before a face-to-face, full-day interview in London last week as Hearts aimed to get their new head coach in before players get back to work.

"The main thing for me was that when we had to start pre-season training tomorrow, that we would have our new head coach in," he said.

"So, it was just as clean and as thorough a process as we could go through."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Wouter Vrancken has been speaking to the media for the first time since his appointment as Hearts head coach.

Here are the key lines:

• It feels "amazing" to get the job after seeing some Hearts games last season and the atmosphere at Tynecastle.

• The Belgian wanted to move abroad a few years ago but says it needed to be the right move. He feels Hearts is a fit for him and Edinburgh is an attractive place for his family.

• When asked if the aim is to challenge for the title again in the coming years, Vrancken said "for sure".

• He says his Hearts team will "like to have the ball" and bring "joy" to the game with lots of intensity.

• The expectation is to compete with the Glasgow teams and try to "overachieve" again in his career.

• Vrancken has always worked with a model of collaborative recruitment and has links with Union Saint-Gilloise's sporting director, so is excited to get access to the Jamestown Analytics software.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Hearts face a rebuilding job this summer - and not just because they have changed head coach and lost the man who led them close to their first title in 66 years in his only season in charge.

Scotland striker and Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland had already left for Rangers before McInnes joined last season's top scorer at Ibrox.

Beni Beningime has left under freedom of contract, fellow key midfielder Cammy Devlin has yet to decide whether to accept a new deal and there are doubts about the future of 43-year-old Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Michael Steinwender and Frankie Kent are also among the departures and fellow defender Craig Halkett will miss the start of the season through injury, while reports suggest Claudio Braga - Scottish football's player of the year last season - and winger Alexandros Kyziridis could be next to be sold.

However, that is seen as a normal part of the buy-low, sell-for-profit strategy adopted by recruitment partner Jamestown Analytics at Brighton and Union St-Gilloise.

Hearts have already brought in seven players, only two of them with any Scottish pedigree - wingers Calvin Miller and Josh McPake from Falkirk and St Johnstone respectively.

It will be Wouter Vrancken's job to fashion them into a winning team while satisfying expectations of success fuelled by coming so close to glory last season.

He does not have long to do so either, with Champions League qualifiers added to the fixture schedule this season.

Belgian Wouter Vrancken has been confirmed as the new Hearts head coach, succeeding Derek McInnes on a two-year contract.

We want to know how you're feeling about the appointment.

Do you think he is the right man for the job and can he maintain the momentum of last season?

What should Vrancken's priorities be this summer?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, SNS

Kazakhstan winger Islam Chesnokov is poised to leave Heart of Midlothian after only six months at Tynecastle, with reports in his homeland suggesting Aktobe have beaten former club Tobol to the 26-year-old's signature. (Daily Record), external

Hearts are poised to sign attacking midfielder Cormac Daly after the 19-year-old left Nottingham Forest as a free agent after impressing on loan to Hereford United in the National League. (Daily Record), external

Image source, Hearts TV

Sabri Guendouz has targeted the Scottish title and Champions League qualification after making "the big step" from the Belgian second tier to Hearts.

The 26-year-old forward has been bought from Beerschot, who finished third in the Challenger Pro League, Belgian's second tier, last season.

It is the same club from whom departing captain Lawrence Shankland signed for Hearts.

"This is the big step in my small career, but I'm not scared," Guendouz told Hearts TV.

"I'm very confident with myself, my talent and my play."

Guendouz spent a season with Beerschot after previously playing for Guingamp in the French second tier, scoring three goals and providing seven assists in his 33 appearances.

He hopes having his wife, family and agent with him in Edinburgh will help him settle in quickly as Hearts prepare for pre-season training and their Champions League third qualifying round meeting with Sturm Graz on 21 July.

Guendouz noted how close Hearts came to winning the league title last season and added: "I hope for the same season and the first place.

"I also have the big objective of the qualification for the Champions League.

"The stadium is very incredible. I am very excited."

Image source, Heart of Midlothian FC

Hearts have confirmed the arrival of midfielder Tom Renaud - their second French signing within a matter of hours - on a four-year contract, billing him as the maestro of Versailles.

The Edinburgh club earlier revealed they had paid an undisclosed fee for forward Sabri Guendouz from Belgian outfit Beerschot.

But 25-year-old Ploemeur-born Renaud was a free agent after the conclusion of his contract with Versailles in his country's third tier.

Renaud came through the youth ranks with Lorient but did not make a breakthrough into the first team, instead spending two loans spells with third-tier Cholet before joining permanently in 2022 and amassing 112 appearances during which he scored eight goals.

He moved on to Versailles in 2024 and made 24 appearances as they finished 13th before playing 32 times last season as they finished fifth.

Although he did not score for Versailles, he provided seven assists.

Renaud becomes Hearts' seventh summer signing.

Image source, Getty Images

Hearts have completed the signing of "exciting, direct attacker" Sabri Guendouz from Belgian second-tier club Beerschot for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old Frenchman has signed a contract until summer 2029.

Guendouz started his career with Valenciennes in the French third tier before moving to Guingamp in 2020 and, after promotion from the B team, helped them to the promotion play-offs and a Coupe de France quarter-final.

"Last season, he made the move to Belgium where he became Beerschot's creative outlet with 10 goal contributions," Hearts say on their website.

Guendouz was also their main goal assist provider, most active dribbler and winner of penalties as Beerschot finished third but missed out on promotion after being edged out in their play-off final.

The Cambrai-born forward becomes Hearts sixth signing of the summer as they rebuild the squad that came runners-up in the Scottish Premiership last season.

Image source, SNS

Lewis Neilson has the "raw material" to flourish at Falkirk, says John McGlynn, as the centre-back makes a permanent switch following his Hearts exit.

The defender, 23, has signed a two-year contract after making 24 appearances on loan last season at the Bairns, who finished sixth on their Premiership return.

Neilson also top-flight experience from spells with St Johnstone and Dundee United.

"At 23, he's the perfect age, and we know he has a little bit of improving to do, but the raw material is there," said manager McGlynn.

"He's one of the quickest centre-backs I've ever worked with and he's good on the ball. There's still some fine-tuning to be done with Lewis but, overall, he's a very good professional and he's a joy to work with.

"He's got a good career ahead of him and we want to try and make the most of that and get him playing at the top of his game, which is something we're looking forward to."

Olympiacos, PAOK, AEK Athens and Panathinaikos all want to bring Alexandros Kyziridis back to Greece, with Hearts asking for a transfer fee of between £2.6m to £3.4m for the 25-year-old winger. (Fussball Europa), external

Sabri Guendouz has said goodbye to fans of Belgian second-tier side Beerschot with 26-year-old forward in Edinburgh to undergo a medical and finalise a six-figure transfer to Hearts. (Hearts Standard), external

Wouter Vrancken will arrive in Edinburgh on Wednesday to finalise a deal to become Hearts' new head coach and the former Sint-Truiden boss hopes to bring former Club Brugge midfielder Tim Smolders and Jong Cercle coach Cederique Tulleners with him as his assistants. (Daily Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.