Hearts seal loan deal for Colombia defender Salazar

Salazar played the full game in his one senior appearance for Colombia last summer

Heart of Midlothian have signed Colombia left-back Andres Salazar on a season-long loan from Atletico Nacional.

The 21-year-old was an international regular at under-20 level and has one senior cap from a friendly win against Iraq in June last year.

"A lot of hard work has gone into making this deal possible so I'm happy it's now over the line," said head coach Steven Naismith.

"We're getting a quality player with loads of experience, despite his young age.

"He's played domestic, continental and international football so he'll bring that knowledge to the dressing room.

"His talent means there will be healthy competition amongst the squad for a place in the starting line-up, and I'm looking forward to working with him."

Salazar is the latest signing of a busy summer at Tynecastle, following the permanent arrivals of Malachi Boateng, Musa Drammeh, Yan Dhanda, Blair Spittal, James Penrice, Daniel Oyegoke, Kenneth Vargas, Ryan Fulton and Jamie MacDonald as well as Gerald Taylor on loan.

Defender Salazar made his first-team debut in 2023 and helped Atletico Nacional reach the final of the opening league tournament – the Torneo Apertura – where they lost on penalties.

They reached the semi-finals of the league's second tournament for an overall third-place finish in the aggregate table.

Salazar also played four matches in the Copa Libertadores - the South American equivalent of the Champions League - in his debut season.

He has represented Colombia in the 2022 South American Games, the 2023 Under-20s South American Championship and the 2023 Under-20s World Cup.