The 36 year old former Ajax and PSV striker joins Heart after the towering striker scored 15 times in 27 starts last season in the Eredivisie, including three goals during Heerenveen's 2009/10 UEFA Europa League campaign and strikes home and away against PSV.

Heart coach John van ‘t Schip is delighted to have signed Sibon and is convinced the target man, who stands just short of two metres tall, will be an influential figure within the A-League.

"The coaching staff has spent the last seven months watching matches in Australia, Europe, Asia and South America to find the striker that has the skills and the mentality to fit into our team and the A-League," he said. "I am very confident Gerald is that player.

"Gerald is physically strong, but his real strength is with the ball at his feet and bringing his team-mates into the match. He has been in excellent form with Heerenveen this season, particularly in the second half of the season, so hopefully he will be able to maintain that level of performance with us."

Van ‘t Schip believes Sibon will also play a crucial role in mentoring up to seven younger members of the Heart side, including 18-year-old AIS graduate Eli Babalj.

"Gerald is a top professional and a winner," he said. "He has obtained experience in some of the best and toughest competitions in world football such as the UEFA Champions League.

"The lessons he can provide to the younger members of our team at training and during the match will prove very important in helping to shape the Club's culture for many years to come."

Having played in England's Premier League with Sheffield Wednesday and the German Bundesliga, Sibon arrives in Melbourne boasting an impressive resume at the elite level.

Sibon was an over-23 member of the Netherlands Olympic Football Team during the 2008 Beijing Games, scoring twice in four starts alongside Roy Makaay and Ryan Babel, while he has also collected a swag of honours at domestic level.

Sibon has five Dutch Cup winners medals, including the 2009 title, three Eredivisie championships and the 2007 German Pokal Cup with FC Nurnberg, where he was a team mate of fellow Heart players Michael Beauchamp and Dean Heffernan.