Rangers player Daniel Finlayson has joined Scottish Premiership rivals St Mirren permanently after a loan spell in Paisley this season.
The centre-back signs a two-year deal with the Buddies after manager Jim Goodwin had previously claimed they were set to complete the signing of the 20-year-old.
According to Not the Old Firm, the original loan deal included a clause to make the move permanent and St Mirren have followed through with it.
Finlayson – a Northern Irish youth international – never played for Rangers after coming through the Academy but was handed his first chance in football at St Mirren.
Daniel made his top team debut in a 3-1 St Mirren win over Ross County in April.
Manager Jim Goodwin has previously talked up the defender who will now look to cement his place in the Saints XI – and that includes at right-back.
“We gave Daniel his debut on Wednesday. He is on loan from Rangers at the moment but we have a contract in place for him and an agreement in place with Rangers,” said Goodwin [NTOF].
“He will join us on a full-time basis in the summer. I want to give young lads an opportunity. He’s one for the future.
“We had that conversation with Daniel and his representatives. We explained the project to Daniel and what we were going to be looking for from Daniel.
“It was never about Daniel coming in and getting 15-20 first-team games. We wanted him to come in and train regularly with senior pros. We wanted him to train with the likes of Jonathan Obika, Lee Erwin and Kristian Dennis.
“He can play right-centre-back in a three-at-the-back formation, centre-back and right-back. He covers a lot of positions.
“He had a really good loan period with Orange County in the USA, where Rangers have a partnership. It was a very successful loan period and I watched a lot of him on YouTube.
“He caught the eye with his energy and professionalism.
“We are looking at him as Marcus Fraser or Jason Naismith-type, one that is going to go on and have a very successful career.
“He is one of a number of young lads in the squad. He is learning all the time.”
Finlayson isn’t the only in-demand Rangers star in the Scottish Premiership as another Ibrox loanee is wanted by this season’s surprise package.
