NafisaLyall Cameron already had some insight into the criticism he would face moving from Dundee to Rangers when a pre-contract was agreed this January.
But for the 22-year-old, confirmed today as the club’s new No.16, this is all part of advancing to a higher level. New demands, new opportunities, and new pressures await the midfielder at Ibrox.
Cameron, who admitted he’d ‘love to join a club like Rangers in the future’ when speaking in a post-match press conference after a narrow Dundee loss at Ibrox last season, left Dens Park on a strong note, having assisted Tony Docherty’s side in remaining in the top-flight.
This was the logical next phase for a player who becomes Russell Martin’s first acquisition ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
“Earlier in the season, I was asked if I’d like to play for a club like Rangers and I said yeah,” he said, speaking to RangersTV.
“I got a bit of slack for that at the time, but I just felt like playing for a club like this is a dream come true, and I just can’t wait to get started.
“[I definitely] think this can push me to the next level. It’s a big change moving through here, I’ve always lived at home, so that is going to be a big change for me. There are a lot more games, a lot bigger expectations, it will be a massive change for me and I’ll need to learn to deal with that.”
Cameron’s first day arrives before the squad reports back for pre-season on Monday. With Champions League qualifiers in just over a month’s time, there is little margin for Cameron to settle in after a hectic few months helping Dundee avoid relegation.
He continued: “It’s obviously amazing to walk in the door. It’s a privilege and I have been waiting for this a long time. It was announced quite a while ago, so I’ve been playing with it in the back of my mind for a couple of months, but just to be here now in the building is amazing.
“It wasn’t easy [the last couple of months] – the expectations change when you sign for a club like this, so I think people expected a lot more from me and I went through a spell where I wasn’t playing my best football. Once I got over that I started playing better again and thankfully, in the end, it was just enough to help Dundee stay up.
“I’ve played in Scotland for three years now. I know what the other teams are going to bring, and what it’s like to go to different places. That is a benefit and playing for Rangers is totally different. You’re dominating the ball, whereas at Dundee I’m maybe not as used to that. But I think it suits my game.”
Martin may not have been in the dugout when Cameron signed, but the player is convinced that with new owners and a fresh regime, exciting developments will unfold at the club. The attraction from the start was clear.
Martin, meanwhile, will anticipate nurturing a player who achieved over 20 goal contributions (14 goals, nine assists) in a struggling team last season.
“To be honest, it was a no-brainer as soon as Rangers came up, I was desperate to be here,” Cameron continued.
“A massive club, the history and everything about it… Being from Scotland, I know what the club stands for, so as soon as it came up, I wanted to jump at it. It’s been a long wait, but I’m just delighted to be here.
“It’s a new project really, the club are looking to improve, build, win leagues, it was something that is great to be part of. I want to come here and make an impression, do as well as possible and get this club back to where it belongs.
“From a personal perspective, my numbers, goals and assists, were quite good for a midfielder [last season] so I enjoyed it in that way. Obviously, it didn’t come without some difficult days. We had a few bad results and were hanging around the bottom of the league. Again, it is a learning process and I feel I have learnt a lot at Dundee that can benefit me going forward in my career.”
Nafisa
