Hearts have reached an agreement to sign Laurent Mendy, the Forest Green Rovers captain, ending a pursuit that stretched across two transfer windows.

The Scottish club first moved for the 29-year-old French-born midfielder in January, only to see their bid rejected. Now, several months on, a deal has finally been secured, and Mendy is set to become Hearts' 10th signing of the summer.

Mendy arrived at Forest Green in 2025 following a move from Macclesfield. During last season, he was a consistent presence in the side, appearing in 47 matches for the English National League club.

With a deal in place, talks over personal terms are now under way. The timing is notable — Hearts face Sturm Graz in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second-round qualifier at Tynecastle on Tuesday evening (19:30 BST).