Mato completes move to Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian

Uganda Cranes winger Rogers Kassim Mato is happy after completing a move to Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian, saying the club’s vision matches his personal ambitions.

Mato completed his move on Thursday 29th, joining Hearts from FK Vardar of North Macedonia on a loan deal until the end of the season, with an obligation to buy.

The agreement means the 22-year-old will sign a permanent three-year contract with the Tynecastle Park side at the end of the campaign.

Mato said he already feels at home in Scotland.

“The ideas and dreams of the team align with my dreams and I am pleased to be in the team. The hospitality is good and I feel like I am home,” Mato said.

The forward promised hard work and goals, saying the Hearts technical team should expect a lot from him.

“The manager should expect much from me. I am going to work with my managers and teammates to make sure we deliver. I am a goal scorer and goal maker, and I will do my best to score goals and put the club at its best,” he added.

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes is also happy about securing his signature during the transfer window.

“It’s great work from the club to get Rogers in during this window and I’m really pleased that he’s here and ready to go,” McInnes said.

“He’s a livewire player, always looking to attack and cause the opposing defence problems. He’s been in to meet the boys and has made a good first impression, and we’re all looking forward to working with him.”

Mato arrives in Scotland on the back of an outstanding season in North Macedonia. While at FK Vardar, he scored 15 goals in 17 games across all competitions. In the league alone, he netted 12 goals, finishing as joint-top scorer alongside Bassirou Compaoré of Struga.

During the ongoing 2025/26 season, Mato has also impressed in Europe, featuring for Vardar in the UEFA Europa Conference League and helping the club win the North Macedonia Cup, further raising his profile.

He started his senior career at Proline FC in Uganda before earning a move to KCCA FC, one of the country’s biggest clubs. His performances there opened doors abroad, leading to a move to Şanlıurfaspor in Turkey for the 2023/24 season.

From Turkey, he joined AP Brera Strumica in North Macedonia in 2024 before crossing to FK Vardar, where his goal-scoring form reached new heights. His rise has attracted interest from several clubs, with Turkish giants Trabzonspor also reportedly monitoring his progress.

On the international stage, Mato has been a key figure for the Uganda Cranes since making his debut in 2022. He has earned 41 caps, scoring eight goals, and remains one of the country’s most trusted attacking options.

Mato becomes the fourth Ugandan player to feature for the Edinburgh-based club, following in the footsteps of David Obua (2008–2012), Uche Ikpeazu (2018–2020) and Toby Sibbick (January–May 2020).

Scotland already has Ugandan representation, with Karl Anthony Uche Ikpeazu currently at St Johnstone and John Jordan Obita playing for Hibernian.