NafisaRangers supporters have spent much of the summer waiting to see what shape Derek McInnes’ squad would begin to take as preparations for the new campaign gather momentum.
After another season that failed to deliver the Scottish Premiership title, there has been a widespread expectation that significant changes would arrive across several areas of the squad.
Recruitment has quickly become one of the biggest talking points around Ibrox, particularly with new leadership now tasked with restoring Rangers to the summit of Scottish football.
The early signs suggest there is a clear strategy in place.
Rather than focusing solely on unfamiliar overseas additions, Rangers appear determined to bring in players who already understand the demands of Scottish football and the pressures that come with representing one of the country’s biggest clubs.
That approach has already been evident with some of the names linked to the club, and supporters have been eager to see which deals would cross the finish line first.
With pre-season underway and expectations rising, Rangers have now completed another important piece of business.
Rangers complete Ross McCrorie return
Derek McInnes has been reunited with Ross McCrorie after making the former Aberdeen player his first signing as Rangers manager.
McCrorie returns to Ibrox from Bristol City for an undisclosed transfer fee, putting pen to paper on a three-year agreement that also includes the option of an additional year.
The 28-year-old netted eight goals in 89 appearances for the Robins and is expected to help fill the gap at right-back following the departure of long-serving skipper James Tavernier.
The move represents a full-circle moment for the defender.
McCrorie progressed through the youth system at Rangers and accumulated more than 50 senior appearances before leaving the club.
Ironically, it was McInnes who originally brought him to Aberdeen in August 2020, helping launch the next phase of his career away from Glasgow.
Valuable experience added to the squad
Since departing Rangers, McCrorie has developed into a far more experienced and mature player.
He featured more than 100 times across three seasons with Aberdeen before earning his move to Bristol City, where he continued to enhance his reputation in the Championship.
His performances have also been recognised at international level.
The versatile defender collected his second Scotland cap during the March friendly defeat to Ivory Coast, although he narrowly missed out on Steve Clarke’s final World Cup squad.
That journey away from Ibrox appears to have played a major role in shaping the player Rangers are now bringing back.
While supporters will remember the promising youngster who first emerged through the academy, the club believes they are now signing a far more complete footballer.
McCrorie delighted to return home
The Scotland international made no secret of his excitement after finalising the move.
Speaking to the Rangers website, McCrorie said:
“It is a dream come true to come back up the road to the team I support.
“I am not that little kid who was at Rangers back in the day. I have changed a lot character-wise, and player-wise, I feel I have changed massively.
“I feel like I am ready now, and I want to come back here and win trophies.”
His comments highlight just how much the opportunity means to him.
Returning to a club where expectations are sky high is never straightforward, but McCrorie clearly feels the timing is right to take on that challenge once again.
McInnes explains why Rangers wanted him back
For McInnes, the signing is about far more than familiarity.
The Rangers manager believes McCrorie has returned to the club as a significantly improved player compared to the one who left several years ago.
Discussing the transfer, McInnes explained:
“Ross is someone I signed for Aberdeen from Rangers, and at that time he wanted to go out and prove himself, which I think says a lot for him.
“He has developed and improved as a player, he has got that added experience, he is a full international now, and he knows the club inside out.
“In the conversations I have had with him, a lot of things I am saying are things he wants from the club as well, so he’s a determined and competitive boy on the pitch, and he is determined to bring good times back to the club.”
Those remarks offer a clear indication of why Rangers pushed to secure the deal.
McInnes values McCrorie’s competitive mentality, leadership qualities and versatility, while also recognising the importance of adding players who already understand what it means to wear the Rangers shirt.
With the defender now officially through the door, Rangers’ summer rebuild continues to gather pace as McInnes begins assembling a squad capable of challenging for honours once again.
Nafisa
