Heart Of Midlothian summer transfer window 2026 - Josh McPake signed

[Lord Beni of Gorgie]

13 minutes ago, Batistuta9 said:

Barney Stewart is currently better than James Wilson IMO - but its difficult to say what James Wislon will be like when he's 21, and whose ceiling is higher. I don't think Wislon will get the opportunities he'll need here, and genuinely (and unfortunately) think it will be better for his career to move on. We'll be getting a couple of million for Wilson if Spurs want to keep him, so if Stewart is a JTA pass then personally I would rather get that sort of money for Wilson now and just repeat the process with Stewart, use some of the money to buy him, and hopefully sell him on for a good sum later down the line too. A massive compliment to the lad is that he reminds me of Shankland. Seems to have that natural instinct for goal. "You can't teach that" as they say.

 

Its also about getting the right price at peak

[Batistuta9]

3 minutes ago, Lord Beni of Gorgie said:

Its also about getting the right price at peak

Yeah exactly this. 

[Horatio Caine]

Another chance to see him in action on Friday night when Falkirk beat United in the cup.

[Pasquale for King]

1 hour ago, soonbe110 said:

All your opinion, nothing to substantiate it, which is perfectly fine    What fan forums are all about     I just disagree with you  

How is it just my opinion? It’s a fact that Stewart is playing in a league McFarlane hasn’t yet, at the same age 🤪. 
Anyway I see you have a few others who disagree with you so you can go and argue with them.

[kingantti1874]

Brighton (Jamestown) taking a young striker from rangers. I only say it as not beyond the realms of possibility we could see him on loan one day 

[chrisyboy7]

53 minutes ago, kingantti1874 said:

Brighton (Jamestown) taking a young striker from rangers. I only say it as not beyond the realms of possibility we could see him on loan one day 

We don't develop other teams players now

[WASTREL]

1 hour ago, kingantti1874 said:

Brighton (Jamestown) taking a young striker from rangers. I only say it as not beyond the realms of possibility we could see him on loan one day 

DM said that Leonard is an emergency loan and JTA dont as a rule do loans because we are not developing our own asset.   

[kingantti1874]

Just now, WASTREL said:

DM said that Leonard is an emergency loan and JTA dont as a rule do loans because we are not developing our own asset.   

We loaned Kabangu as well.  I don’t think it’ll be common but no impossible.  

[SomethingAboutObua]

22 minutes ago, kingantti1874 said:

We loaned Kabangu as well.  I don’t think it’ll be common but no impossible.  

But Kabangu was signed with an obligation to buy in summer unless we were relegated 

[I P Knightley]

On 28/02/2026 at 21:36, Chuck Berry said:

I'd say Luke Graham at Dundee is a better target if we're wanting a young CB with sell on potential. 

 

  He has a year left on his contract.

Did he not just sign a contract extension?

 

That may have been a move by Dundee to secure a half decent fee when he moves in the summer, though.

17 hours ago, wcjambo said:

Doubt it, he's english 

 

... with two Scotland caps.

 

After his hat-trick against Hibs, he commented that it would have especially pleased his Jambo dad.

[WASTREL]

13 hours ago, kingantti1874 said:

We loaned Kabangu as well.  I don’t think it’ll be common but no impossible.  

No not impossible and I miss the possibility of seeing another Ellis Sim as I hoped we would loan a striker for the remainder of the season .   Kabangu was a loan with a commitment to buy was it not?

[wcjambo]

2 hours ago, I P Knightley said:

Did he not just sign a contract extension?

 

That may have been a move by Dundee to secure a half decent fee when he moves in the summer, though.

... with two Scotland caps.

 

After his hat-trick against Hibs, he commented that it would have especially pleased his Jambo dad.

Is still English though, wasn't aware his dad was a jambo. Maybe he's undercover on KB. Hopefully his da pushes the move 

[Horatio Caine]

2 hours ago, I P Knightley said:

Did he not just sign a contract extension?

 

That may have been a move by Dundee to secure a half decent fee when he moves in the summer, though.

... with two Scotland caps.

 

After his hat-trick against Hibs, he commented that it would have especially pleased his Jambo dad.

Stewart will presumably view Oriam as a second home having been a Heriot Watt student!

[LogicalEric]

20 hours ago, soonbe110 said:

That would be a major step backwards.  We are potentially looking for players to play CL or EL football next season.  A guy who was playing for Herriot-Watt 18 months ago doesn’t fit the bill. 

Couple of times hes played against us can't say ive been impressed. The game a couple of weeks ago he very much looked like someone not long out of the EOS league.

[Jambof3tornado]

39 minutes ago, Horatio Caine said:

Stewart will presumably view Oriam as a second home having been a Heriot Watt student!

Wonder if we'd ever had a look at him? 

[Batistuta9]

53 minutes ago, Jambof3tornado said:

Wonder if we'd ever had a look at him? 

With Heriot Watt playing and training at the Oriam, I'd be very surprised if someone hasn't at least caught one of their games or something, or maybe he's even played a bounce game or a friendly against some kind of Hearts side (B's, U18s, U17s etc).

 

[Finlay James]

I heard this morning that we’re quite far down the line with the signing of a Chinese player.

 

I’ve also heard that at least 8 clubs have approached us about Braga and that we value him at £11M.

 

No further info and could turn out to be pish but thought I’d share.

[johnking123]

Wang Yudong.

[heartsfc_fan]

48 minutes ago, Finlay James said:

I heard this morning that we’re quite far down the line with the signing of a Chinese player.

 

I’ve also heard that at least 8 clubs have approached us about Braga and that we value him at £11M.

 

No further info and could turn out to be pish but thought I’d share.

£11 million? 🤩

[Gordons left glove]

51 minutes ago, johnking123 said:

Wang Yudong.

is he not considered a bit of a wonder kid 

[johnking123]

5 minutes ago, Gordons left glove said:

is he not considered a bit of a wonder kid 

Yes. Type of player that i hope we can get.

[Gordons left glove]

9 minutes ago, johnking123 said:

Yes. Type of player that i hope we can get.

Is it who you hope the Chinese player is or do you know its him?

[johnking123]

Just now, Gordons left glove said:

Is it who you hope the Chinese player is or do you know its him?

No, just random guess. 

[Gordons left glove]

24 minutes ago, johnking123 said:

No, just random guess. 

Fair dos 👍 would be delighted if you were right 

Edited March 3 by Gordons left glove

[Gordons left glove]

Chinese guy maybe tyias browning? Played for Everton, sunderland, wigan and Preston, at Shanghai port just now. Maybe 'too old' if we were looking for a centre back. 

[Vlad Magic]

Our resident ITKers or AKA the bullshitters have their work cut out now more than ever.

 

 

[tiger Rudi]

On 02/03/2026 at 11:49, soonbe110 said:

That would be a major step backwards.  We are potentially looking for players to play CL or EL football next season.  A guy who was playing for Herriot-Watt 18 months ago doesn’t fit the bill. 

Altena was playing amateur football not that long ago so I wouldn't rule it out. Agree that as a direct replacement for Braga we would be looking at a different level, someone who could make an immediate impact.

[El Prez]

Wang Yudong. If ever there was a player whose name sounds like filth, when spoken in a Scottish accent.

 

Innuendo & an absolute fortune in marketing from the Chinese market.

 

Don't even care if it's not true. Worth it for the speculation alone.

[tiger Rudi]

1 hour ago, heartsfc_fan said:

£11 million? 🤩

£11 million wow. Makes sense when you think players like Hirst in the championship with 8 goals is valued at about £8 mill. Simms too. 

[Babertonhearts]

2 hours ago, Finlay James said:

I heard this morning that we’re quite far down the line with the signing of a Chinese player.

 

I’ve also heard that at least 8 clubs have approached us about Braga and that we value him at £11M.

 

No further info and could turn out to be pish but thought I’d share.

Absolute bunkum.

[The_razors_edge]

3 minutes ago, Babertonhearts said:

Absolute bunkum.

Not a Chinese name I’m familiar with 

[DarthVodka]

3 hours ago, Finlay James said:

I heard this morning that we’re quite far down the line with the signing of a Chinese player.

 

I’ve also heard that at least 8 clubs have approached us about Braga and that we value him at £11M.

 

No further info and could turn out to be pish but thought I’d share.

Absolutely no doubt there is clubs sniffing around Braga

 

there was some interested in Kyzi in Jan, a Greek team we have met recently was one of them. He’s not had the same headlines since then but we’d be stupid to think that has gone.

 

Hearts were keen to keep these guys in January for obvious reasons, but if the price is right in the summer then that’s the model 

[Armageddon]

1 hour ago, Babertonhearts said:

Absolute bunkum.

 

1 hour ago, The_razors_edge said:

Not a Chinese name I’m familiar with 

Found this way funnier than I should have, way funnier 😂😂😂

[JamboGee92]

I reckon the JTA factor will push up our asking prices as well which can only be a good thing.

[Finlay James]

8 hours ago, Vlad Magic said:

Our resident ITKers or AKA the bullshitters have their work cut out now more than ever.

 

 

I’m not ITK or ever claimed to be but I heard some info and thought I’d share.  As I said in my post, could be pish or equally could have done truth in it.

[Gorgierools]

8 minutes ago, Finlay James said:

I’m not ITK or ever claimed to be but I heard some info and thought I’d share.  As I said in my post, could be pish or equally could have done truth in it.

I for one appreciate it mate

[tiger Rudi]

10 hours ago, johnking123 said:

Wang Yudong.

Another winger who can play either side. 

 

That would be about 6 wingers at last count lol 3 on either side 😁

 

[il Duce McTarkin]

8 hours ago, The_razors_edge said:

Not a Chinese name I’m familiar with 

 

 

[Absolute Scenes]

11 hours ago, johnking123 said:

Wang Yudong.

Hope he’s packing

[Absolute Scenes]

8 hours ago, DarthVodka said:

Absolutely no doubt there is clubs sniffing around Braga

 

there was some interested in Kyzi in Jan, a Greek team we have met recently was one of them. He’s not had the same headlines since then but we’d be stupid to think that has gone.

 

Hearts were keen to keep these guys in January for obvious reasons, but if the price is right in the summer then that’s the model 

He was at PAOK as a youth player was Kyzi not? Absolute brass neck to come sniffing around after launching him as a kid 

[WASTREL]

2 hours ago, Finlay James said:

I’m not ITK or ever claimed to be but I heard some info and thought I’d share.  As I said in my post, could be pish or equally could have done truth in it.

What you posted is in the spirit of this thread.  Tenuos whispers are the order of the day and needed.  The researchers need researching practise for when this thread starts in earnest. 

[jamboinglasgow]

2 hours ago, Finlay James said:

I’m not ITK or ever claimed to be but I heard some info and thought I’d share.  As I said in my post, could be pish or equally could have done truth in it.

 

Ignore them, too many killjoys on this thread who think others are incapable of critical thinking. I have no problem with people sharing what they heard and people can make their own mind up whether to believe it or not

 

If those rumours do turn out to be true they would be very interesting. A Chinese player, apart from being expected to be a good find because of Jamestown, could have a big impact on interest in the club from China, similar to what has happened with Chesnokov and Kazakhstan. £11m for Braga would be incredible business if we realistically think that's how much we can get.

[Section Q]

Little piece on Leonard.

 

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/hearts-keen-to-seal-new-birmingham-city-agreement-absolute-godsend-marc-leonard/

[Lord Beni of Gorgie]

Lets get Claudio to the World Cup, bag a few and double it to 22 million! 

 

With the 3 million for Wilson, the 5 for Kzyi and and an estimated 17 millin from winning the league a fine 50 million haul

[Threedoorsdown]

What a travesty if nobody pays whatever we are asking for Braga and we need to put up with him for another season.

[Thomson1874]

Here’s how the squad looks in terms of players currently signed up beyond the end of the season. Have included any younger players currently out on loan who I can see have a contract beyond the end of this season and are around ‘first team’ squad age (18+).
 

Goalkeepers

1. Liam McFarlane - 2028 (C)

2. Alexander Schwolow - 2027

3. Ryan Fulton - 2027

4. Zander Clark - 2027 (H)

 

Right Backs

5. Jordi Altena - 2029

6. Christian Borchgrevink - 2028

7. Adam Forrester - 2027 (C)

 

Centre Backs

8. Jamie McCart - 2029 (H)

9. Michael Steinwender - 2028

10. Craig Halkett - 2028 (H)

11. Stuart Findlay - 2028 (H)

12. Matthew Gillies - 2027 (C)

 

Left Backs

13. Stephen Kingsley - 2027 (H)

14. Harry Milne - 2027 (H)

 

Centre Midfielders

15. Eduardo Ageu - 2029

16. Oisin McEntee - 2028

17. Tomas Bent Magnusson - 2028

18. Macaulay Tait - 2028 (C)

19. Calem Nieuwenhof - 2027

20. Blair Spittal - 2027 (H)

21. Finlay Pollock - 2027 (C)

22. Yan Dhanda - 2027

23. Sander Kartum - 2027

24. Callum Sandilands - 2027 (C)

 

Wide Midfielders

25. Rogers Mato - 2029

26. Josh McPake - 2029

27. Alexandros Kyziridis - 2028

28. Sabah Kerjota - 2028

29. Islam Chesnokov - 2028

30. Gus Stevenson - 2027 (C)

 

Forwards

31. Kenneth Vargas - 2029 
32. Lawrence Shankland - 2028 (H)

33. Claudio Braga - 2028

34. Elton Kabangu - 2028

35. Pierre Landry Kabore - 2028

36. James Wilson - 2027 (C)

 

Out of Contract

- Craig Gordon

- Lewis Neilson

- Harry Stone

- Frankie Kent

- Beni Baningime

- Cammy Devlin

- Marc Leonard - Loan ending

- Alan Forrest

 

The below B Team players are currently out on loan trying to get 3000 mins under their belts to get an official JTA rating. As far as I can see (could be wrong but couldn’t see any reported extensions), all are currently out of contract as it stands at the end of the season but it’ll be interesting to see if JTA value any highly enough to be given an extended deal. 
 

B Team - JTA Rating Pending

- Dom Plank

- Bobby McLuckie

- Mackenzie Ross

- Kenzi Nair

- Tommy North

- Kai Smutek

- Gregor Crookston

- Aiden Haddow

- Henry James

 

We might have a few surprises where JTA rates one of the youngsters highly enough to make an impact next season, would certainly be handy for our European squad! 

[boag1874]

According to transfermarkt these are our most valuable players (discounting Beni & Devlin as they're OOC)

 

1st= Shanks

1st= Braga

3rd Kyzi

4th Ageu

5th= Steinwender

5th= Chesnokov

 

I can see us cashing in on the ones in bold, we could add up to over £10m in transfer fees for them all. They should all fetch us a 7 figure sum, Braga is easily worth over £5m & if he keeps going the way he is that number will rise, Kyzi probably around £3-5m & Steinwender is a fast strong CB that's reasonably tall, good in the air & versatile enough to play RB with his peak years still ahead of him, he won't be a million miles off the Austrian national teams radar (they've a few injuries at CB) & has good experience with over 100 games in the Austrian Bundesliga, deffo could fetch a couple of million if he performs at his best in the run in.

 

Potentially we've already replaced Kyzi so that's a lot of money to use if we wanted to sign Leonard permanently & then bring in Braga & Steinwender replacements, with change to spare for upgrades in other positions.

Edited March 4 by boag1874

[Carter]

3 minutes ago, boag1874 said:

According to transfermarkt these are our most valuable players (discounting Beni & Devlin as they're OOC)

 

1st= Shanks

1st= Braga

3rd Kyzi

4th Ageu

5th= Steinwender

5th= Chesnokov

 

I can see us cashing in on the ones in bold, we could add up to over £10m in transfer fees for them all. They should all fetch us a 7 figure sum, Braga is easily worth over £5m & if he keeps going the way he is that number will rise, Kyzi probably around £3-5m & Steinwender is a fast strong CB that's reasonably tall, good in the air & versatile enough to play RB with his peak years still ahead of him, he won't be a million miles off the Austrian national teams radar (they've a few injuries at CB) & has good experience with over 100 games in the Austrian Bundesliga, deffo could fetch a couple of million if he performs at his best in the run in.

It's a bit of a strange one that McInnes seems to favour Kent to Steinwender at RCB. Appreciate Steinwender has played most of his minutes season to date at RB. Notwithstanding, I'd still have thought he was a better RCB option than Kent. 

 

Steinwender has more than played his part this season. I could see him move on for a decent fee at the end of the season though. 

[Lord Beni of Gorgie]

10 minutes ago, Carter said:

It's a bit of a strange one that McInnes seems to favour Kent to Steinwender at RCB. Appreciate Steinwender has played most of his minutes season to date at RB. Notwithstanding, I'd still have thought he was a better RCB option than Kent. 

 

Steinwender has more than played his part this season. I could see him move on for a decent fee at the end of the season though. 

Entirely possible. Other clubs are selling players that might raise an eyebrow based on the bare eye, defenders are not as sought after, but if Ogeyoke can end up in Italian football, its realisitic to believe we may have assets that are not instantly obvious.

[boag1874]

Just now, Carter said:

It's a bit of a strange one that McInnes seems to favour Kent to Steinwender at RCB. Appreciate Steinwender has played most of his minutes season to date at RB. Notwithstanding, I'd still have thought he was a better RCB option than Kent. 

 

Steinwender has more than played his part this season. I could see him move on for a decent fee at the end of the season though. 

I agree. As you said, he's McInnes favoured RB at present & to my memory I don't think there's been a game where we've been missing Halks & started Kent but Steinwender hasn't played RB (could be wrong), so I guess that's the caveat.