Hearts have announced that skipper Danny Wilson will leave Tynecastle in the summer.

The club confirmed the news following reports that the 23-year-old would trigger a release clause in his contract after helping Hearts to the Scottish Championship title.

Head coach Robbie Neilson told Hearts News: "Danny's decided he wants a new challenge and, as I've said previously, I'll never stand in the way of any player who wants to move on so he goes with our blessing and our thanks.

"He's been an outstanding servant to this club and has played a vital part in its revival this season.

"Danny's probably seen it all in the two and a half years that he's been here, and probably had good cause to leave sooner if he had wished to do so.

"He took a pay cut during the bad times and was instrumental in helping to keep spirits up when things looked bleak; buying season tickets and donating them to club charity Big Hearts, and donating several raffle prizes for club events and then buying them back.

"He had options to go at the start of this season but he stayed because he wanted to see the job through and get us back to the top flight so for that I can't thank him enough.

"We'll miss him on and off the park and he's been a great captain but that's football; players join and players leave and we're no different here at Hearts.

"We'll continue to work hard to assemble a squad that can challenge for a top-half spot in the Premiership."

Celtic manager Ronny Deila recently expressed admiration for the former Rangers and Liverpool defender, although he stressed he was only one of many players they were talking about in relation to summer transfer plans.