Hearts underwent a transformation in the summer as head coach Derek McInnes and Tony Bloom's data analytics company, Jamestown Analytics, combined to reshape a squad that had struggled to impress the previous season.
James Penrice, Jorge Grant, and Barrie McKay all left for pastures new in pre-season, as Claudio Braga, Alexandros Kyziridis, and Stuart Finlay entered - and it has worked perfectly for the Jambos, who sit six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership at the halfway stage.
The likes of Barrie McKay, Kenneth Vargas, and Aiden Denholm also waved goodbye to Gorgie, and many of the club’s youngsters took an opportunity to move out on loan to gain valuable first-team experience. But while Hearts have been riding high at the top of the Scottish Premiership, what happened to those who moved on in the summer window?
Here we look at the 14 Hearts players who moved away from the club before the start of the new campaign, and assess how they have done for their new teams in the first half of the season. Who has found success away from Tynecastle - and who regrets their decision to leave?
9. James Penrice - AEK Athens
Moved to AEK Athens after an impressive debut campaign for the Jambos last season, and has done fairly well in Greece, making 24 appearances in all competitions, though only 10 of them have been starts. A rumoured transfer target for Rangers this summer, he could look return in order to get more regular first-team football. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
10. Kenneth Vargas - Club Sport Herediano (loan)
The striker spent the first half of the season back in homeland of Costa Rica with Club Sport Herediano, where he scored one goal in seven games. Upon his return earlier this month, he went left almost immediately, signing a one year loan with LD Alajuelense. They restart their season on January 16, where Vargas is expected to feature. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
11. Lewis Neilson - Falkirk (loan)
The talented young centre-back agreed a season-long loan deal with newly promoted Falkirk in the summer, where he was a regular starter until an ankle injury curtailed his campaign. Expected back from the injury later this month, and will hope to break in John McGlynn's starting XI once fully fit. | (Photo: Craig Foy/SNS Group) Photo: SNS Group
12. Yan Dhanda - Dundee (loan)
The former Liverpool youngster didn't quite hit the heights many had hoped upon his arrival at Tynecastle last summer, and opted to make a season-long loan move to Dundee in August, where he has scored two goals in 15 starts. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group