Clevid Dikamona to leave Hearts after agreeing to end his contract

Clevid Dikamona has agreed to terminate his Hearts contract and return to France with his family.

The popular defender signed paperwork over the weekend to finalise his departure from Tynecastle Park, although he would happily return for next season.

All players and staff at the Edinburgh club were asked by owner Ann Budge to take a 50 per cent wage cut last week due to the impact of coronavirus in football.

Captain Steven Naismith is the latest to accept the reduction but Dikamona asked to cancel his contract to save Hearts a wage. He stated publicly that he would return in the summer if the club wanted him back but, for now, would prefer to return to France.

He reached an agreement with club officials over the weekend to end his deal, which was due to expire on May 31.

With football across Europe in shutdown due to the global pandemic, he is now clearing his house in order to leave the country before the end of the week.

The Congolese internationalist joined Hearts as a free agent in September 2018 and quickly became a cult hero among supporters, labelling himself a “Jambo Soldier”.

Should matches resume in late May or June as planned, Hearts would find themselves short of centre-backs without Dikamona.

John Souttar is out with a ruptured Achilles and Christophe Berra is on loan to Dundee, leaving Craig Halkett as the only recognised first-team centre-half.