 When Terek failed to secure a return to the Premier League, Kingston appeared set for a permanent departure from the Chechen side.Despite an approach from Bolton Wanderers and rumoured interest from Newcastle United and Fulham, Kingston joined Hearts on 25 January 2007 on an initial six-month loan deal.Hearts also negotiated the option to sign him permanently for a further three years at the initial contract's end and exercised this option on 6 June 2007, for a reported fee of £500,000.