Rangers have already signed two players so far during this January transfer window, with James Sands arriving from New York City and John Souttar signing a pre-contract agreement to join in the summer from Hearts. The question is, who have been the top five Rangers January signings?
January is notable for players coming in and either being a quickfire hit with the fans or sinking without a trace due to being a panic buy. Rangers have had a fair share of both.
I have picked Rangers’ top five January incomings since the window was introduced during the 2002/2003 season.
Kris Boyd
Domestically, season 2005/2006 was a wash-out, early defeats in the League and Scottish Cups combined with our poor league form made sure there were no repeats of the previous season. The only shining light in the campaign was the side qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League, and the small matter of signing Kris Boyd.
Boyd joined Rangers in January 2006 from Kilmarnock and went on to become a revelation, an out and out goal scorer that the club needed. The Scot scored a hattrick on his debut against Peterhead and didn’t look back.
He left in 2010 but came back to the club for a further season in 2014/2015 to mixed success. A total of 128 goals from 191 matches ensures Boyd goes down as one of the finest January signings.
David Weir
When the 36-year-old David Weir signed for the Gers in January 2007, it was expected to be a short-term deal, a stopgap until the summer when Walter Smith would be able to have time to sort out a new backline.
Fast forward four and a half years later, three titles, three League Cups, and two Scottish Cups, it was a fairly successful move on all fronts.
Weir was a mainstay of the defence through this period, partnering with Carlos Cuellar for a season before Madjid Bougherra to constant success. Not bad for a free transfer.
Steven Davis
Walter Smith signed Davis on an initial loan deal from Fulham in January 2008, before making it a permanent deal that summer.
He contributed massively to the sides run to the UEFA Cup final that season as well as winning a domestic double. The Northern Irishman remained at the club until 2012 before signing for Premier League new boys Southampton.
He made a dream return to Ibrox in January 2019 under Steven Gerrard and was excellent as the side strolled to the league title last season. There are fears this could be his final campaign with the side as his contract expires at the end of the season.
Glen Kamara
In terms of potential sell-on value, Kamara is probably the best January signing from a financial point of view, only costing the club £50,000 when he signed in 2019 from Dundee after initially agreeing on a pre-contract deal.
He has been so impressive during his Rangers career and was a key focal point of the side that won the league title last season.
With plenty of interest, especially from the Premier League, the Finnish midfielder is in high demand and Rangers could command a record fee if he were to leave.
Ianis Hagi
This is one that may cause plenty of debates, I firmly believe Hagi hasn’t fully realised his potential at Rangers since signing in January 2020 from Genk on a six-month loan deal before he moved to Ibrox on a permanent deal in the summer.
Hagi has impressed in patches for Rangers, starring in the title win last season, before being played out of positions at times in the current campaign.
He has excellent potential and if it weren’t for a lack of pace, he could be featuring in the Premier League, like Kamara, Hagi could command a high fee when he inevitably leaves the side.
There were of course some notable players who missed out, Barry Ferguson, Jermain Defoe, and Kevin Thomson. It shows that the club has made some excellent January transfers over the years.
Let’s hope Giovanni van Bronckhorst can add a few more in the next week.
In other news, Rangers have received an Old Firm boost as a key man for Celtic will miss the vital tie.