Midfielder Michael Stewart has joined up with Hearts for a second time, subject to a medical.
Stewart, who spent a year on loan at Tynecastle prior to signing for city rivals Hibs, has agreed a one-year deal with an option for a further two years.
The 26-year-old will travel to London for a scan before joining his new team mates at their Austrian training camp.
Stewart made 20 appearances for Hearts in season 2004-05, having arrived on loan from Manchester United.
After his release from Old Trafford, Hearts made no move to sign him up and Stewart joined Hibs in summer 2005.
But he fell out of favour at Easter Road in April, immediately after a group of players complained to chairman Rod Petrie about new manager John Collins' methods.
Collins did not select Stewart for his team again and, following a recent trail with Sunderland, he moves back to Hearts as a free agent.
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Prior to the deal being struck, Hearts defender Christophe Berra said he would welcome the return of Stewart.
Berra told BBC Sport Scotland: "If he's going to improve the team then I'm all for it.
"Any players who are going to come into the squad who are better than the ones we've got then it's a good thing for the club.
"You can tell that he (Stewart) has got the ability.
"He did well for Hibs when he was playing regularly and if he does come to the club then he'd be a good addition."
And Berra feels that Stewart has the mentality to handle the switch across Edinburgh.
"It's quite a strange situation," the 22-year-old defender said. "But I think he's a strong character and he's got a strong mind so I think he'd be able to cope with it fine."
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