If Rangers fans didn’t know who Leon Balogun was before signing on at Ibrox, they certainly do now.
There’s an old adage about some players coming into the team and looking like they’ve always been there; with Balogun, it’s like he’s the missing piece of the puzzle.
The Nigerian defender has slotted in so comfortably that he’s enhanced the performances of Connor Goldson – a teammate for a brief moment at Brighton – and staked a major claim for a starting berth.
A composed, international level defender with pace to burn who looks fit and hungry, the 32-year-old’s Man of the Match debut earned Balogun comparisons to Ibrox cult hero Madjid Bougherra.
The defender was so impressive in Aberdeen – one of the Ibrox club’s most difficult fixtures of the season – that he earned the applause of his teammates come the final whistle.
Never scared to carry the ball and a powerful runner both with and without it, Balogun is proving himself a useful player in both overloading the midfield and in last gasp defending.
This is probably best summed up by a chopping challenge amid a St. Mirren breakaway in the 3-0 win at Ibrox, with Balogun’s powerful, perfectly timed tackle saving a certain goal.
What’s even more impressive about the signing of the 6ft3 centre-half is that this was largely under the radar and, signing on fees and wages aside, a completely free transfer.
Berlin-born Balogun’s career has saw him flip-flop between a host of sides in Germany, seeing him turn out for the likes of Hannover 96, Werder Bremen and Mainz.
But the centre-back has never really managed to cement a place anywhere he’s played – his 58 appearances for Mainz the most he has made for any side [Transfermarkt].
His international experience earned him a move to Premier League Brighton in 2018 but Balogun only managed 12 appearances amid fierce competition on the English south coast.
Leon would then move on loan to Wigan Athletic where he remains very highly thought of and even signed a short-term deal to see out the restarted season after his Brighton contract expired.
After Wigan were relegated from the English Championship, Balogun found himself a free-agent before Rangers came knocking.
For a 32-year-old player with 32 international caps, it’s interesting to think that Balogun has never managed to find somewhere that where he truly fits in.
At Rangers, there’s a growing feeling that he is the piece of the Scottish Premiership jigsaw which the club has been missing.
For Balogun – who proudly announced himself a Glaswegian over the weekend – it could be the footballing home he’s been waiting on for almost an entire career.
