Hearts sell Steinwender to Bochum after season at Tynecastle

Hearts have sold defender Michael Steinwender to German second-tier club Bochum for an undisclosed fee. The 26-year-old Austrian had signed until summer 2028 when Hearts bought him from Varnamo in January last year after he had spent half a season in the Swedish top flight. Now he exits Tynecastle after making 47 appearances for the Scottish Premiership club, scoring twice, 34 of them last season, all but 13 of them as starts. Steinwender, who has signed until summer 2029 with Bochum, started his career with Mattersburg before moves to St Polten and Hartberg. He told Bochum's website: "I am overjoyed to have the chance to prove myself here in Germany in Bundesliga 2. "VfL really pursued me and gave me a great feeling right from the start." Director of professional football Simon Zoller added: "Michael won us over with his all-round package as a modern centre-back." Bochum were ninth in the 18-team German second tier last season.