Calem Nieuwenhof will link up with Australian trio Kye Rowles, Cam Devlin and Nathaniel Atkinson at Hearts after joining the Scottish Premiership outfit from Western Sydney Wanderers on a four-year deal.
The Wanderers have received an undisclosed transfer fee for the 22-year-old Olyroo, who swaps the Isuzu UTE A-League for Scotland after his breakout season in Western Sydney.
It means Hearts’ Aussie contingent grows to four, with A-Leagues graduates Rowles, Devlin and Atkinson based at the club in Edinburgh. He is also the latest Australian to move to Scotland’s top flight from the A-Leagues after Melbourne City star Marco Tilio signed for Celtic.
INS AND OUTS: Isuzu UTE A-League 2023-24 Transfer Centre
“I’m really looking forward to getting Calem in and working with him,” said Hearts head coach Frankie McAvoy.
“He’s earned rave reviews in the A-League and we think that he can come to Hearts and continue that form and make a real impact.
“Calem has the potential to both improve the team and himself, so it’s an exciting signing.”
Nieuwenhof starred for the Wanderers in 2022-23 after arriving from cross-town rivals Sydney FC ahead of the campaign.
He quickly established himself in Western Sydney’s starting XI, becoming a key member of Marko Rudan’s side that reached the finals for the first time since 2016-17.
Nieuwenhof made 27 appearances and scored four goals – all career highs – as Western Sydney eventually fell to Sydney in the Elimination Final.
“The Australian market is one we now know well, so when the opportunity came up to make a move for Calem, it was too good to turn down,” said Hearts sporting director Joe Savage.
“We know exactly what we’re looking for in terms of targeting quality players. Sometimes that means having to be patient until the right player becomes available and in Calem we’ve got that, so we’re delighted to get him in.
“He has all the attributes to carry his success from the A-League over to Scottish football and we all feel that he’s more capable of doing so.
“Things are beginning to heat up on the transfer front and we’re hopeful we’ll have even more good news to share in the coming days.”
He was also part of the Olyroos squad that finished third at the prestigious Maurice Revello Tournament last month.
Technical director Steven Naismith added: “We’ve watched Calem a lot and what has impressed me the most is his versatility in the middle of the park.
“He can fill a variety of different roles in there and his numbers prove that he excels in all of them.
“From the conversations we’ve had he seems like a great lad, he has a real desire to come here and succeed and so he should fit into the dressing room well.
“It’ll be a few days yet before he comes over and all the relevant paperwork is completed, then we’ll integrate him into the group and get him match ready.”
