Heart of Midlothian's Kazakhstan winger Islam Chesnokov has returned to his homeland to sign for former club Tobol on a permanent deal after just six months with the Scottish Premiership club.

What happened?

Chesnokov had signed a three-year contract with Heart of Midlothian last summer but made just 11 appearances, six of them as a substitute.

Why it matters for Heart of Midlothian

The Edinburgh club fell just short of winning the Scottish title for the first time since 1960, and Chesnokov's departure may impact their future performances.

What comes next?

Chesnokov, who has 26 international caps, started his career with Altai Semey and had a spell in Belarus with Belshina Bobruisk before two years with Tobol, helping them win the Kazakhstan Cup in 2025. | Player | New Club | | --- | --- | | Islam Chesnokov | Tobol | Heart of Midlothian will need to reassess their squad after Chesnokov's departure, considering his experience and international caps.