A Greek winger will join the Scottish Premiership for the 2025/26 season.

Alexandros Kyziridis will sign a three-year contract with Hearts next month, hoping to continue his prolific goal-scoring form. The Greek winger has signed a pre-contract agreement to join Tynecastle Park after a successful season at Slovakian club Zemplín Michalovce. He scored 16 goals and assisted eight times in 26 appearances.

Hearts believe they have signed a player with high potential who, at 24, could develop into a valuable asset in the William Hill Scottish Premiership. Kyziridis was identified by Jamestown Analytics’ data algorithms and is eager to prove himself in British football. If he can replicate those scoring feats, he will become popular in Gorgie.

Derek McInnes, Hearts’ new head coach, wants to use wide players and inject pace into the team next season. Kyziridis’ form in Slovakia suggests he could play an important role. Many of his goals this season were documented on social media by Tom Irving, a well-known football analyst, through his Irving Analysis account. His video can be found below.

The Edinburgh club also intends to sign at least one additional winger. They are close to signing Kazakhstan international Islam Chesnokov on a pre-contract, but would prefer to complete the transfer this summer if possible. Midfield targets have also been identified, and Belgian striker Elton Kabangu, who joined Hearts on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise in January, is expected to sign a permanent deal.

Norwegian defender Christian Borchgrevink has signed a pre-contract agreement to leave Valerenga. He will report to Riccarton for pre-season training next month, along with Kyziridis and possibly several others. There will also be departures as McInnes begins reshaping the first-team squad. Hearts confirmed that winger Barrie McKay and midfielder Jorge Grant will leave when their contracts expire at the end of the month. Craig Gordon, the custodian, and Lawrence Shankland, the captain, have been offered extensions.

Hearts released a statement on Wednesday confirming Kyziridis as their latest signing: “Heart of Midlothian Football Club is pleased to confirm the pre-contract signing of Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis. The 24-year-old will join the Jambos on a three-year deal in the summer, subject to Scottish FA approval, after his contract with Slovak top flight club MFK Zemplin Michalovce expires.

“A pacey, direct attacker with an eye for goal, Alexandros has been one of Slovakian football’s success stories, finishing this season second in the Slovak First Football League goalscoring charts. He scored 16 goals across all competitions and has 23 goal involvements in 28 games this season.

New Hearts manager and transfer deals are being finalised.

“Alexandros is primarily a left-sided winger who came up through the PAOK youth system in Greece. He made his professional debut for fellow Greek club Iraklis in 2018/19, then helped Volos retain their Greek Super League status the next year.

“He began a two-year stint in Slovakia in 2020, joining FC ViOn Zlate Moravce. Alexandros’ first season was a success, with the team finishing fifth in the top flight and qualifying for the UEFA Conference League play-offs. Although ViOn were eliminated in the final after extra time, Alexandros scored four goals in the semis and final.

“The following season was more challenging as ViOn finished in the league’s Relegation Group, but after avoiding the drop Alexandros was named in the Slovak First Football League’s U21 Team of the Season. His form caught the eye of Debrecen, one of Hungary’s most successful clubs, and in 2022/23 he was on the move. Alexandros’ debut season in Hungary ended with Debrecen finishing third in the top league, securing European football qualifying spots.

“That was followed up in 2023/24 by narrowly missing out, by one league place, on another crack at Europe but Alexandros did get his first taste of European football that year as Debrecen navigated through R2 of Conference League qualifying before being eliminated in R3 by Rapid Vienna.

“Slovakia called again, and Alexandros made his return to the Slovak top flight with Zemplin Michalovce at the start of the season. Although a finish in the Championship Group would evade Zemplínčania by only two points, Alexandros has enjoyed a standout season. Steering them away from the drop and to the top of the Relegation Group – and with it a play-off place for European qualification – he notched 16 goals in 28 appearances, recorded seven assists, and is second across the entire Slovak top tier for goals scored.

“Alexandros now follows in the footsteps of countrymen Takis Fyssas and Christos Karipidis in bringing Greece to Gorgie, and we look forward to welcoming him to Tynecastle Park in June.”

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