Hearts in talks to sign Amadou Ba-Sy in a six-figure transfer deal

Hearts are in talks over a transfer deal for French forward Amadou Ba-Sy as they move to strengthen their attacking options for next season. The Edinburgh club have made an offer to sign Ba-Sy from the French third division side Rouen, where his contract runs until summer 2027. The Edinburgh News has learned that talks are progressing and the player is interested in moving to Scotland.

The Hearts management team targeted Ba-Sy as a possible signing back in January but a transfer did not materialise at the time. Rouen wanted to keep him to help with their promotion push from the French Championnat National and were reluctant to negotiate any deal. However, Tynecastle management are now working to get their man this summer. They want to recruit an imposing No.9 and Ba-Sy’s profile is what they are looking for.

The a 24-year-old striker stands 6ft 3in tall and would add a physical presence to the forward line in Gorgie. He is not viewed as a direct replacement for Lawrence Shankland, who joined Rangers yesterday, but some of his similar attributes are attractive to Hearts. Ba-Sy scored six goals and claimed four assists in 29 games for Rouen, playing as a target man or a second striker. Rouen narrowly missed out on promotion in the play-offs and are now preparing for Ba-Sy’s departure. Hearts believe he can improve their forward line and they could sign him in a deal worth more than €200,000 [£173,000].

Ba-Sy is a product of the Nice football academy who later moved on to fellow French sides Gazélec Ajaccio and Dunkerque. He spent a season in Portugal in 2024/25, joining Vizela and then being loaned to Academica de Coimbra. He moved to Rouen last summer with the intention of revitalising his career and playing regularly in his homeland. His long-term aspiration is to step up to a higher level.

Hearts have already been active in the transfer market as they prepare to welcome St Johnstone winger Josh McPake and French midfielder Tom Renaud to Tynecastle. There is also strong interested in the Falkirk winger Calvin Miller, plus English centre-backs MJ Kamson-Kamara and Malachi Fagan-Walcott. The move for Ba-Sy is designed to further reinforce a squad to challenge for the Scottish league title again next season.

Shankland completed his move to Rangers on Tuesday after signing a two-year contract with a one-year option at Ibrox. Rangers negotiated a quick deal with the striker after activating a break clause in the three-year contract he signed at Tynecastle last summer. That allowed him to leave without a transfer fee and he has now secured his future in Glasgow after four years in Edinburgh.

Hearts are seeking a replacement for their skipper, but supporters are unhappy that the club captain has gone to a rival club for free. Shankland and his representatives negotiated for months last year before he signed his three-year Hearts contract - which would not have happened without the break clause enabling him to leave this summer. Tynecastle officials agreed to it knowing he could bring them success in season 2025/26. His goals helped the club secure a place in the Champions League’s second qualifying round this July after they finished second in the Premiership for the first time in 20 years.

Hearts issued a short statement confirming Shankland’s departure, which read: “Heart of Midlothian can confirm that Lawrence Shankland is leaving the club to join Rangers. The striker will make the move to Ibrox on undisclosed terms once the summer transfer window opens on June 15th. We thank Lawrence for all of his efforts during his four years in Gorgie.”