Heart of Midlothian’s summer rebuild has continued with the departure of Kazakhstan international winger Islam Chesnokov, who is set to return to his former club, FC Tobol, just six months after arriving in Edinburgh.

Chesnokov joined Hearts in January 2026 on a deal running until the summer of 2028, arriving with a growing reputation following impressive performances in the Kazakh Premier League and for the Kazakhstan national team. However, his time at Tynecastle never truly got going.

The 26-year-old made only 11 appearances for the Jambos, scoring once and struggling to cement a regular place in the starting line-up.

Reports suggest Chesnokov turned down more lucrative proposals elsewhere to return to Tobol, the club where he enjoyed the best spell of his career before moving to Scotland.

His departure comes during a period of significant change at Hearts following the appointment of new head coach Wouter Vrancken.

Several players have already left Tynecastle this summer, while some new arrivals have been brought in as the Belgian looks to reshape the squad ahead of the new season.

For Chesnokov, the move back to Kazakhstan offers an opportunity to rediscover the form that made him one of his country’s brightest talents.

Although his stay in Edinburgh was short-lived, Chesnokov leaves with the best wishes of the Hearts support, who hope the winger can reignite his career back in familiar surroundings.