Calem Nieuwenhof reveals Hearts transfer seed sown five years ago as Aussie connection seals the deal

Calem Nieuwenhof admits the seeds of his Hearts transfer were sown five years ago on a visit to the capital.

The midfielder has penned a three-year deal at Tynecastle and will wear the No. 8 shirt this season. Nieuwenhof joins fellow Aussies Kye Rowles, Nathaniel Atkinson and Cammy Devlin in Steven Naismith's squad. He's been well versed in all things Hearts already though, having played with Scottish Cup winning hero Ryan McGowan at Sydney FC before making the move across town to Western Sydney Wanderers, where he was a teammate of former Jambo Oli Bozanic last season.

But it was a game in Gorgie back in 2018 that gave Nieuwenhof a taste of the Tynecastle experience and that left him wanting more. And that meant it was a no brainer when the capital club came calling this summer, with the 22-year-old jumping at the chance to join his compatriots in maroon, which he has now done officially after his visa and work permit were rubber stamped.

"There's been so many Aussies that have come to Scotland recently," he said. "The majority have done really well when they've come over and it's proven to be a huge stepping stone. Joining the other Aussies here makes it easier for me and a better transition.

"My dream has always been to play football over in Europe and this is the perfect club for me to do so. I've seen briefly how passionate the fans are. I came to a Hearts game back in 2018 and I remember vividly how much passion there was and it makes me excited to come and play and represent everyone here.

"It was a pretty easy decision. It's a club I've always known and how big it is. Playing with Bozanic last year, who was a Hearts player as well, he spoke so highly of it. So when Hearts came in it was an easy decision and I