Hearts today completed their fifth new signing in recent weeks as they prepare for the new season in the SPFL Championship. Former Turkish Under 21 defender Alim Ozturk has become the latest player to sign for Robbie Neilson’s team after leaving Trabzonspor in Turkey.
Ozturk, 22, who was born in the Netherlands but qualifies for Turkey through parentage, was previously with SC Cambuur in the Dutch League. He moved to Trabzonspor for a sizeable fee but things didn’t work out as planned and he spent some time playing in the reserve side.
Hearts Head Coach Robbie Neilson was delighted with his latest capture. He told the club’s website:- “Ozturk is a very good player. He was sold to Trabzonspor 18 months ago for quite a bit of money and was a big prospect for them.
He wants to get back playing and has taken a big gamble coming here as he has taken a big hit on his wages. I think the fans will really take to him. He is big, strong and athletic and is good on the ball, too. I think him and Danny Wilson will form a great partnership.
“We have been trailing him for a few weeks and didn’t think we had a chance of getting him but I’m delighted to have signed him and sometimes you just have to wait a little while to get players like him.”
Hearts have already signed former Hamilton Accies striker James Keatings, former Scotland goalkeeper Neil Alexander, striker Soufian El Hassnaoui and midfielder Morgaro Gomis as they prepare to joust with Rangers and Hibernian for promotion back to the top flight of Scottish football.
Author of The Team for Me - 50 Years of Following Hearts. Runs Mind Generating Success, a successful therapy practice in Edinburgh. Contact me if you want rid of any unwanted habits. Twitter @Mike1874
