MJ in and four players out at Tynecastle

May 27, 2026 4:45 pm

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Highly-rated, English-born centre-half, MJ Kamson-Kamara, has signed a pre-contract deal to join Heart of Midlothian FC and he will join the Jambos on July following the expiration of his contract at newly-promoted EFL Championship side Lincoln City.

The 20-year-old has agreed a deal until 2030 at Tynecastle Park, and he spent his formative years at Bromley before signing his first professional contract with Lincoln City in 2023.

Loan spells at Barwell and Peterborough Sports followed, and made his Lincoln City first-team debut in the EFL Trophy in 2024.

Last season he was loaned to Northern Ireland Football League Premiership side Glentoran and he made 30 appearances, scoring four goals, he helped The Glens to a third-place finish, only five points behind champions Larne.

He was also part of the side which reached the Irish League Cup Final, edged out 1-0 after extra time by Linfield.

Leaving Hearts are Beni Baningime, Frankie Kent (pictured by Nigel Duncan), Alan Forrest and Lewis Neilson.

The club say all four have made important contributions to the recent success in recent years.

Baningime joined the Jambos on a free transfer from Everton in the summer of 2021, making 127 appearances and scoring twice, and, although his first season was prematurely ended by injury, Beni helped Hearts to third place and Europe in 2021/22 and 2023/24.

He became an important player under head coach Derek McInnes as the men in maroon secured second place in the William Hill Premiership and a Champions League qualifier.

Frankie Kent arrived from Peterborough United in 2023, recording 95 appearances and four goals for the Jambos, and was another well-liked presence around Tynecastle and Oriam.

The defender helped Hearts to third and second placed finishes in the Premiership, and contributed to memorable European nights with victories over Rosenborg, Dinamo Minsk, and Omonoia.

Alan Forrest joined the club in the summer of 2022 from Livingston, and the winger scored 14 goals across 147 appearances in maroon.

Among them was an Edinburgh derby screamer against Hibs in October 2023, before scoring on European night in Gorgie a year later as Hearts defeated AC Omonoia 2-0 at Tynecastle.

Lewis Neilson made the move to Tynecastle Park in the summer of 2022 after his contract expired at Dundee United and he made appearances during the 2022/23 campaign, including five in the UEFA Conference League.

He then had loan spells at Partick Thistle and St Johnstone but returned to Gorgie in January 2025, making another seven appearances in maroon before spending last season on loan at Falkirk.

The club also confirm that goalkeeping coach Paul Gallacher is going. He joined the club in 2016 as a player-coach under then manager, Robbie Neilson, as he began to wind down his near 20-year professional playing career.

Paul, nicknamed Gal, featured for Dundee United, St Mirren, Dunfermline, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday and Partick Thistle, his final club before joining the Jambos, and he also received eight caps for Scotland between 2002-04.

A Hearts spokesman said: “Despite the managerial changes at the club over the years, Paul has remained a source of stability, coaching a number of Hearts’ stoppers including Craig Gordon, Zander Clark, Jon McLaughlin and Alexander Schwolow.

“Gal has also been instrumental in improving the next generation of Hearts goalkeepers, including Jack Lyon, Harry Stone and Liam McFarlane.”