Star to leave Hearts after 'outstanding' season as Jambos grant request and transfer exit date set
The Hearts goalkeeper is set to move on from the club and make a transfer home.
Goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow will leave Hearts next month and join German Bundesliga side Mainz 05, the Premiership club have confirmed.
Beau Reus has arrived at Tynecastle following four years in Belgium at Beveren after Schwolow’s desire to return home emerged. He joined Hearts last year after time at Union Berlin and was the number one as the club finished second in the Scottish top flight. Craig Gordon has retired from football this week and Liam McFarlane has been loaned to Partick Thistle in a busy week between the sticks in Gorgie.
It was Schwolow’s first move outside of his native Germany but he now returns at top flight level. He will still be available for Hearts for the remainder of this month ahead of Champions League second round qualifiers versus Sturm Graz on July 21 and July 28.
Why has Alexander Schwolow left Hearts?
A Hearts statement explains: “Heart of Midlothian can confirm that Alexander Schwolow will depart the club to join FSV Mainz 05. The goalkeeper will make the move to the Bundesliga side on August 1st on undisclosed terms, but until then remains available for first-team selection.
“Alex was an August 2025 arrival at Tynecastle Park and would go on to make 33 appearances, helping the Jambos to a second-place finish and securing a spot in the Champions League qualifiers. Though a much-valued member of the squad, a move closer to home was Alex’s preference and given the arrival of new goalkeeper Beau Reus, the club agreed to grant his request. Everyone at Hearts thanks Alex for his time at the club and wishes he and his family the best of luck back in Germany when the time comes.”
Mainz 05 sporting director Niko Bungert said: “In Alexander Schwolow, we have got exactly the goalkeeper profile we were looking for. He is the right character and a real team player. He has just had an outstanding season with Heart of Midlothian, where they only narrowly missed out on winning the Scottish title. Alex knows the Bundesliga inside out from more than 200 Bundesliga appearances, and because he grew up just a few kilometres from Mainz, he will not need any time to settle in.”
Who has Alexander Schwolow signed for?
Schwolow added on his impending move: “Mainz 05 stands for togetherness, passion and a very clear way of playing football. That mentality suits me well. After my exciting time in Scotland, I wanted to take on another new challenge in the Bundesliga, and at Mainz I immediately had the feeling that it was a very good fit, both personally and in sporting terms.
“The talks with the club’s management were very open, clear and appreciative from the very first moment. They gave me a very good feeling and made it clear what they are planning with the team. I’m also really looking forward to experiencing the fantastic Mainz fans and fighting for every point together with them.”