Orestis Kiomourtzoglou was Hearts top transfer target but new man faces visa sweat ahead of debut

Orestis Kiomourtzoglou has been Hearts ' number one transfer target for a while, says Robbie Neilson.

The Jambos got their man before today’s 3-2 win over St Johnstone. The former Heracles Almelo player penned a three-year deal with the Tynecastle club after they paid a six-figure fee to sign the German from the Eredivise, thought to be around £350,000. He’s unlikely to be the last either, with Neilson planning on more new faces ahead of Thursday’s deadline.

Neilson explained that Hearts had tried to land the 24-year-old earlier in the window but couldn’t get a deal done. Things have since changed and he’s now been added to the squad. A debut against Kilmarnock in the Premier Sports Cup on Wednesday is a possibility, but player and club must wait on the Home Office rubber stamping his visa. If that doesn’t happen in time for Wednesday, then he will likely make his bow in maroon when the jambos travel to Livingston next weekend.

“He’s been our number one target for a while,” said Neilson. “He’s a real strong midfielder, good physicality, deals with the ball really well and hopefully can add value to the team as well. He’ll bring a real presence to our midfield and his style of play will be well suited to the system we implement here.

“It’s down to the Home Office. We need to get his visa sorted. He has been training and playing with his club so he is ready to go, he just needs his visa.”

Kiomourtzoglou admitted that the lure of Europa Conference League football meant he couldn’t turn down the chance to move to the capital. And if his paperwork is sorted in time, he’ll be ready to play in midweek if selected.

“For sure, I’m 100 per cent ready,” he told Hearts TV. “I’m looking forward to playing for this amazing club