Heart of Midlothian FC today announces the signing of Spanish playmaker Ruben Palazuelos.

The midfielder, who impressed as a trialist in Saturday's international challenge match against Barcelona at Murrayfield, has signed a four-year deal.

Speaking exclusively to Hearts News today, the 24-year-old said: "I am delighted to have joined Hearts. I was in Austria and Germany for the pre-season training camps and was impressed with the quality of the squad here.

"The Barcelona game was a great experience and hopefully I can help Hearts have more big European occasions while I am here.

"Hearts are a big club and I want to bring success to them."

Palazuelos was one of four new players to complete their transfers to Hearts this morning.

Striker Ricardas Beniusis and winger Andrius Ksanavicius have joined on year-long loans from FBK Kaunas, while Slovenia U17 captain Matej Rapnik has penned a two-year agreement.

Towering front man Beniusis, 27, has been capped 18 times for Lithuania and arrives at Tynecastle after a prolific career with FBK Kaunas.

He added to his impressive domestic tally in last week's Champions League qualifier against FK Zeta, although the strike was not enough to prevent the team from Montenegro progressing.

Left winger Ksanavicius is a 30-year-old internationalist who also caught the eye against Barcelona - along with Beniusis he played as a trialist on Saturday. The Lithuanian also demonstrated his eye for goal by scoring in last week's Champions League clash.

The highly rated Rapnik, a left-sided centre-half, will be included in the club's U19 squad this season and is viewed as a real star for the future.

He impressed on a week's trial towards the end of last year and is delighted to have secured his dream move.

"It was a difficult decision to leave my family behind in Slovenia but I believe this is the right move for me as I try to improve as a footballer," the defender told Hearts News today.

"I have been impressed with everything I have seen at Hearts and I'm looking forward to my career at Tynecastle."

The four new signings join Larry Kingston and Michael Stewart in pledging their futures to the Jambos as Anatoly Korobochka and Stephen Frail continue planning for the new season ahead having had their own positions endorsed by Vladimir Romanov at the weekend.