Tuesday 23 May 2017 16:20, UK
Christophe Berra is to rejoin Hearts this summer, while six players signed in January have been released.
Tasos Avlonitis, Alex Tziolis, Lennard Sowah, Andraz Struna, Moha Choulay and Dylan Bikey are all leaving Tynecastle after last term's third-placed team came fifth in the Scottish Premiership.
And Ian Cathro has begun his recruitment for next season by agreeing a three-year deal with former club captain Berra, who is out of contract at Ipswich.
"It's a great feeling," said the Scotland centre-half, who left for Wolves eight years ago. "I wanted to come back and there's only one team in Scotland I wanted to play for and that's Hearts.
"I'm born and bred in Edinburgh, my friends and family are here and this is the only club I've ever played for in Scotland. Hopefully I can end my career here."
Sowah, Struna and Tziolis were all involved fairly regularly after joining Cathro's squad, making 48 starts between them, while Avlonitis and Bikey featured less frequently.
Choulay was also a more peripheral figure but in his case he is returning to his parent club Stoke City following his stint in Edinburgh.
Hearts have struggled under Ian Cathro since he was appointed as head coach towards the end of 2016 and have won only five games out of 21 in 2017.
Cathro has had a number of difficult moments and is understood to have rowed with forward Bjorn Johnsen at half-time in a recent 1-0 defeat at St Johnstone.
In turn, that has led to speculation that the striker could also leave the capital team in the coming weeks.
Tziolis was reportedly linked with a move to Hearts' Premiership rivals Rangers earlier this month after he worked with Ibrox manager Pedro Caixinha a decade ago at Greek side Panathinaikos.
Caixinha has distanced himself from making a move for the defender, however, calling reports suggesting he could recruit Tziolis as "pure rubbish".
Cathro has maintained he can turn Hearts' fortunes around and said he expects to make four new signings during the close season.
