From Hearts News in Barsinghausen, Germany

Hearts this morning swooped to sign international central defender Ismael Bouzid from, Ankaragucu in Turkey.

The 25-year-old put pen to paper here in Barsinghausen late last night upon the team's return for the friendly against Slask Wroclaw, and in doing so becomes the Tynecastle side's fourth summer recruit.

Capped ten times for the Algerian national team, Ismael has significant top-level experience across Europe.

He secured the league championship in Turkey with Galatasaray, and can call upon French outfit Troyes and German cracks Kaiserslautern amongst his former employers.

"I am very pleased to be joining Hearts," Ismael said. "It is a European club that I am aware of and I know it is a very strong club.

"I am looking forward to playing my part in making the club successful."

Ismael holds dual French/Algerian nationality and does not require a work permit.

Manager Csaba Laszlo was delighted to secure one of his top summer targets, having tracked the centre-half for some time.

"He is a very good experienced player that can help us," he said. "We have had him on our radar since last season.

"He is physically very strong, quick and is good in the air. I think he can help organise our defence because he has a very good personality.

"Ismael can definitely help us because Kari and Berra left the club last season.

"Now we have him, Marius Zaliukas and Dawid Kucharski with Ryan McGowan and Jose Goncalves, who can also play central defence, we can close this part of our squad."

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