Champions League
Wouter Vrancken set to leave Sint-Truiden for Heart of Midlothian
Wouter Vrancken (47) is finalising his move to Heart of Midlothian FC after three years at Sint-Truiden. The Scottish club completed multiple discussions with Vrancken last week and is convinced by his profile.
Vrancken finished third with Sint-Truiden last season, securing a European ticket. He felt ready for a new challenge abroad after his time at the Belgian club.
Heart of Midlothian pushed for Vrancken despite interest from Burnley and Lorient. Bulgarian side Ludogorets also made a strong push for his signature. The Scottish club now leads the race for his services.
Both parties must still agree on financial terms, according to well-informed Scottish sources. The transition is expected to be completed in the coming days.
Heart of Midlothian finished second in the Scottish Premiership last season, narrowly missing the title on the final day. Celtic claimed the championship instead.
The club lost manager Derek McInnes to Rangers FC this summer. Vrancken will replace him and faces an immediate test in the Champions League second qualifying round against Sturm Graz next month.
Heart of Midlothian was 29% acquired by Tony Bloom in summer 2025. Bloom, owner of Brighton, revived Union Saint-Gilloise using data-driven recruitment through his company Jamestown Analytics.
Hearts’ recent success includes targeted transfers from Norway and Slovakia. The club led the league for long periods before finishing second, just two points behind Celtic.
Vrancken departs Sint-Truiden after guiding them to a third-place finish and a European berth. He leaves the club having secured a new challenge in Scotland.