Here’s some of the latest transfer headlines with Hearts elements weaved throughout.
Hearts face an uphill Champions League battle this week and transfer business is going on amid that.
The Jambos lost 4-0 against Sturm Graz last Tuesday ahead of the second leg in their second round qualifier on July 28 at Tynecastle versus Austrian opposition. It was a tough start to life as head coach for Wouter Vrancken but he’s reacted with the signing of defensive midfielder Laurent Mendy plus a friendly win at Raith Rovers.
Premiership business also starts next week at Aberdeen with a busy summer showing no signs of slowing down. From a former star’s exit to Rangers and a former coach joining Chelsea, here are some of the latest transfer headlines, with maroon flavouring.
Alex Lowry joins Motherwell
Former Hearts and Rangers playmaker Alex Lowry insists he’s ready to showcase his talent after joining Motherwell on a season-long loan deal. The former Scotland youth international was highly rated at Rangers and had a loan spell in Gorgie during term 2023/2024 before joining Wycombe Wanderers a year later permanently. He now returns to Scotland at Fir Park under manager Alfred Johansson.
Lowry said: “It’s great to be back up the road. Being a Scottish football fan, everyone knows Motherwell were an outstanding team last year. But having spoken to the manager, it’s already clear he has his own ideas for what he wants the team to look like, and I think even in these early stages, the identity is clear. I feel I can add to the already strong squad assembled here and I’m looking forward to kicking on this season.”
Why did Cammy Devlin leave Hearts for Rangers?
Cammy Devlin has revealed his stressful departure from Hearts impacted his World Cup. The midfielder has signed for rivals Rangers following the conclusion of his Gorgie deal to work with ex-Tynecastle gaffer Derek McInnes again but admits allowing himself to go into a major tournament out of contract backfired. He said: “It was stressful to be honest. We didn’t have much time to kind of reflect on how last season ended and then it was straight into the World Cup, which is one of the most special moments of your career. I thought it would be a good idea going in there off contract, but it wasn’t.
Cammy Devlin joined Rangers this summerplaceholder image
Cammy Devlin joined Rangers this summer
“It was too stressful. It was hard to kind of enjoy being in the moment and being at the World Cup and dealing with all that and all the noise around it. I had my dad asking me every day what’s going on. Everyone kind of knows the relationship I have with the gaffer. We’re super close. He was so good for me at Hearts. Everyone knows the season we had there last year and he helped me so much just as a player. When the opportunity came, it was one that I thought was too good to pass up. Obviously being at Rangers is such a massive football club and that was kind of what happened for me. But yeah, like I say, it was pretty stressful. I’m glad now it’s all over.”
Austin MacPhee joins Chelsea
Former Hearts coach Austin MacPhee has reportedly been recruited as the new set-piece coach at Chelsea. MacPhee is off the back of highly-rated work in the Premier League at Aston Villa and was with Portugal during their World Cup campaign. MacPhee was Ian Cathro’s assistant initially at Tynecastle during 2016 but remained in Gorgie until four years later across various coaching capacities that included interim boss. Now it’s widely reported down south he will swap Villa for Chelsea after five years in Birmingham and has already said his goodbyes.