Johnly Yfeko’s sudden drop off at Rangers came as a big surprise heading into the summer.
Under former Gers manager Michael Beale, the one-time Leicester City youth had been the subject of routine soundbites and he very much looked on the verge of breaking into the squad.
Back then there were hopes the left-sided defender would go on to replicate Calvin Bassey at Ibrox.
Philippe Clement even handed Yfeko a new contract in November last year, tying the player to the club until 2026.
But opportunities are expected to be limited for Johnly Yfeko at Rangers this season and that’s why the 21-year-old defender opted to go out on loan to Exeter City this summer.
And it’s been a bright start for Yfeko at his new club too.
Johnly’s matchwinning contribution has seen him named Man of the Match and given a standing ovation on his competitive Exeter debut.
Yfeko sets up Exeter winner
Johnly Yfeko didn’t leave Rangers for League One Exeter to sit on the bench.
So it was no surprise to see the defender – who may well yet return to Rangers at the end of the season – start the Grecians’ first game of the campaign against Rotherham.
Starting as a centre-back on the left-hand side of a back three, Yfeko was eventually given a standing ovation when he left the park with minutes to play.
Winning all seven his aerial duels in the match, Yfeko had 61 touches in the game, made five clearances and made three recoveries.
But it was in the offensive side of the park where Johnly really shone, making seven passes into the final third and even setting up Australian midfielder Caleb Watts to score the winner.
From out left, the towering Yfeko whipped in a dangerous low cross for Watts to score at the back post.
It’s a moment which has excited the Exeter fans and Rangers fans will be keeping a close eye on the progression of Johnly Yfeko south of the border.
It also resulted in the left-sided defender being named Man of the Match in his first game in League One.
Rangers loanee has ‘massive potential’
Exeter City are managed by former Scotland and Celtic defender Gary Caldwell and he has been speaking to the press after their opening day victory.
Asked about the impact of Johnly Yfeko, Caldwell has waxed lyrical and claims that the defender has ‘massive potential’.
Adding that Exeter are ‘delighted’ to have the player at the club, the Exeter boss believes the best is yet to come.
“Johnly has been excellent,” Caldwell told a post-match press conference.
“He came in a little bit later so physically not quite where we want him to be.
“But again a young player making his league debut, probably hasn’t seen that sort of physicality before. (He) stood up to it, never took a backwards step.
“Has quality with the ball and without the ball, defends extremely really well.
“He’s another young we’re delighted to have at the club but I think he has massive amounts of potential.
“We have lots of work to do on the training pitch but he showed a glimpse of what he can produce today.”
Rangers fans may well find the comments a little ominous given that the official Exeter website confirmed the League One club have an ‘option to buy’ inserted into the loan contract.
Whilst it is not clear just how much the Devonshire club will have to pay to sign Johnly Yfeko permanently the clause alone is enough to have Gers fans take notice.
Johnly Yfeko came through the youth ranks at Tottenham Hotspur and then Leicester City before moving to Rangers in 2022.
To date, Yfeko’s only senior appearance for Rangers came against Greenock Morton in the League Cup, where Johnly played the full game in a 2-1 victory.
