Hearts confirms signing of Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis and Islam Chesnokov

In an effort to bolster their wide areas, Hearts has conducted negotiations with Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis ahead of the upcoming campaign. Kyziridis’ contract with Zemplín Michalovce in Slovakia expires this summer, and Tynecastle authorities have approached him in the hopes of bringing him to Scotland.
The 24-year-old can operate in the middle or on the right, but he feels most at ease on the left side. In an effort to reach a pre-contract agreement, Hearts also had extensive discussions earlier this year with Islam Chesnokov, a winger for Kazakhstan. Any unsigned contracts will probably be put on hold until Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes evaluates the first-team roster because he is scheduled to relocate to Gorgie next week.

Norwegian right-back Christian Borchgrevink already has a pre-contract deal in place to move to Tynecastle for season 2025/26. McInnes will assess and alter the squad as he sees fit over the coming weeks. Hearts confirmed that winger Barrie McKay and midfielder Jorge Grant will leave at the end of the season when their contracts expire. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon and captain Lawrence Shankland have been offered new deals.

Kyziridis was developed in PAOK Salonika’s youth system but moved on to make his senior debut with Iraklis in 2019. He signed for Volos and then headed to Slovakia to join ViOn Zlaté Moravce. After that came two years with Hungarian club Debrecen, during which he was loaned to Mura in Slovenia, before he joined Zemplin last August. Kyziridis has scored 12 goals in 24 games and claimed seven assists on top so far this season.

A number of signings are expected over the summer at Tynecastle and McInnes will have a say in all of them. Hearts’ sports recruitment analysis firm, Jamestown Analytics, have been assessing a number of potential transfer targets since the January window closed. Some players will also be moved on as part of an overhaul to ensure the Edinburgh club are able to challenge in the top half of next season’s Scottish Premiership.

Transfer news to come and Elton Kabangu’s loan deal from USG

The Belgian striker, Elton Kabangu, has an option to convert his loan from Union Saint-Gilloise into a permanent transfer. Hearts can invoke that for a pre-agreed fee, and they will also look to improve other areas of the side. Having agreed terms with Kilmarnock to bring McInnes to Edinburgh, interim head coach Liam Fox will remain in charge of the Hearts first team until the end of the season.

Kilmarnock’s season finale against Hearts takes place at Rugby Park on Sunday. Following an agreement with the Kilmarnock leadership, McInnes and his coaching staff will not be in the dugout. In order to start a new chapter in Gorgie’s history, the manager is anticipated to complete the move to Tynecastle sometime next week.

Although the 53-year-old’s Kilmarnock contract has a minimum-fee release clause, it expires in 2027. It was brought on by Hearts’ late-month dismissal of former head coach Neil Critchley.