Here, we’ve listed the best Rangers loan signings of all-time.
Rangers, like many other clubs, are hit and miss with their player recruitment. You only have to look at some of the Ibrox giants’ transfer windows across the current century to see for yourself.
But on those occasions when the jackpot is hit – even if the club have risked millions on players such as Arthur Numan or Barry Ferguson – going along to Ibrox every week to watch them hone their skills is a joy like no other.
It’s the same with loan players, even if as a Rangers fan you only see them for a season before they returning to their parent clubs. Nonetheless, their contributions can be crucial across the course of the season as Rangers constantly chase silverware.
Let’s forget about the loan signings of the lower league days, or the ‘Newcastle five’ from 2014/15 campaign. For now, we’re diving into the five best Rangers loan players to have ever played for the club.
Jermain Defoe
- Loaned from: Bournemouth
- Seasons on loan: 2018/19 & 2019/20
- Loan appearances: 52
- Loan goals: 25
- Loan assists: 8
We’ll start with the man who has scored the most goals ever as a Rangers loanee and that is Jermain Defoe.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard managed to sign Defoe on an 18-month loan deal from Premier League outfit Bournemouth. He had only made eight appearances for the latter during the first half of the 2018/19 campaign.
It was an opportunity to revitalise the end of his wonderful career and prevent it from petering out in a way that would have been wholly undeserved.
Defoe scored just 12 minutes into his Rangers debut against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park and would signal the beginning of a fruitful run of form – he would end that season with 12 Premiership games played and 12 goal contributions (six goals and six assists).
The following season saw Defoe rattle in 17 goals across 32 games in all competitions as he showcased his deadly finishing ability that helped make a name for himself in England.
Defoe was such a success that Rangers would sign him permanently in the summer of 2020. And it turned out to be a sensational decision for the poacher as Gers went on to lift league title number 55.
Certainly one of the best Rangers loan signings purely from a goal-scoring point of view.
Steven Davis
- Loaned from: Fulham & Southampton
- Seasons on loan: 2007/08 & 2018/19
- Loan appearances: 41
- Loan goals: 1
- Loan assists: 9
When Steven Davis signed for Rangers on loan as a 23-year-old in 2008 from Fulham, a boyhood dream had just come true.
The Northern Irishman jumped at the chance to sign for Gers and established himself at the heart of the Ibrox midfield under legendary boss Walter Smith.
If you told Fulham midfielder Davis that he would sign for Rangers and reach both the UEFA Cup and Scottish Cup Finals within the space of six months, he probably would have laughed out loud.
That, however, was the case for the Northern Irishman.
His loan ended in the summer but a permanent £3m transfer from Craven Cottage was soon thrashed out. 11 years later, after leaving Rangers under a cloud and representing Southampton, Davis would once again strike a deal with the Govan giants to sign on loan.
That was back in January 2019 – the same month Defoe signed – and while there was no UEFA Cup or Europa League Final like last time to come, it wouldn’t be too long before he’d play in one again when Rangers agonisingly lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022.
Davis is easily considered a club legend and wouldn’t be if it weren’t for his initial loan spells at Rangers.
Ryan Kent
- Loaned from: Liverpool
- Season on loan: 2018/19
- Loan appearances: 43
- Loan goals: 6
- Loan assists: 9
You’ll struggle to find a better debut Rangers season in recent years than Ryan Kent’s in 2018/19.
Signed temporarily from Premier League giants Liverpool after a raft of other loan spells, Kent found a permanent home at Ibrox after a dazzling first campaign.
The tricky and skilful winger terrorised Scottish Premiership defences with his superb close control and fearlessness to drive full pelt towards his full-back, all while racking up plenty of goals and assists.
He scored against Celtic in March 2019, with Rangers unfortunately on the losing side. But you may remember his altercation with Scott Brown from that game which led to a retrospective two-match suspension.
Nevertheless, that wasn’t going to overshadow Kent’s terrific season. He collected both the Rangers and PFA Scotland young player of the year gongs and was rightfully voted into the PFA’s team of the year.
Rangers would then shell out an initial £6.5m on Kent in the summer of 2019 as a result.
Vladimir Weiss
- Loaned from: Manchester City
- Season on loan: 2010/11
- Loan appearances: 35
- Loan goals: 5
- Loan assists: 15
From one dynamic winger to another, Ibrox cult hero Vladimir Weiss has had a lasting impact despite only spending the 2010/11 campaign with Rangers.
At the time, it was well documented that the Slovakian rejected the advances of city rivals Celtic in favour of joining Gers – Weiss certainly made the right decision for his sake and for Rangers.
The Man City kid was an exciting addition to Walter Smith’s squad and can be remembered for his individual expression and ability to strike fear into defenders.
Weiss played a huge rule in the 2011 League Cup Final triumph over Celtic, despite only being introduced in the 93rd minute. The clash went to extra-time with the scoreline locked at 1-1 after normal time.
The players were feeling the effects of fatigue – but not Weiss. Fresh on as a substitute, his swift thinking to take a quick free-kick in the 98th minute which played Nikica Jelavic through on goal to score THAT goal was absolutely crucial.
Of course, it ended up being the one of the sweetest winning goals in Rangers history thanks to Weiss and Jelavic, who celebrated to their hearts’ content.
Weiss could hardly be contained until the end of the season. The enthusiastic winger will live long in the memory for his jubilant celebrations with fans chanting ‘Glasgow Rangers champions!’ as Gers went on to be crowned league winners that year.
El-Hadji Diouf
- Loaned from: Blackburn Rovers
- Season on loan: 2010/11
- Loan appearances: 22
- Loan goals: 2
- Loan assists: 3
Is El-Hadji Diouf one of the best Rangers loan signings in the club’s history? We think so.
Senegalese forward Diouf definitely had baggage attached to him when signing for Rangers. But even if he wasn’t a world beater and not the best behaved, Diouf played a big part in the club’s run towards SPL and League Cup double success.
Diouf was signed from Blackburn hours before the January 2011 transfer window closed as Walter Smith required attacking reinforcements.
He scored twice in a Rangers shirt, one certainly being more significant than the other. That was the opening goal against Sporting CP in a Europa League last 32 tie, which proved crucial as Rangers progressed to the next round on away goals following a 3-3 aggregate scoreline.
Unsurprisingly, Diouf is better known for his regular clashes with Celtic’s Scott Brown – which certainly made for some good snaps for photographers whilst adding to the fervour of an Old Firm derby.
Then 30 years old, Diouf ruffled Celtic’s feathers in the title race as our Glasgow rivals eventually threw away a two-point lead right at the conclusion of the season.
Five months with Rangers and two winners’ medals? Not bad going!
Gregory Vignal
- Loaned from: Liverpool
- Season on loan: 2004/05
- Loan appearances: 37
- Loan goals: 2
- Loan assists: 3
Gregory Vignal was a player blighted by injury problems throughout his journeyman-like career – but thankfully, that wasn’t a problem with Rangers.
The French left-back was brought to the club by Alex McLeish for the 2004/05 campaign and despite being a 23-year-old loan player farmed out by Liverpool, he became vital to one of the most memorable Scottish football seasons ever.
Vignal netted just twice – not the worst for a full-back – but those couple of goals won’t be forgotten in a hurry by the Rangers faithful. His first was quite simply massive. Vignal was the man to courageously step up and take the spot-kick that, if scored, would fire Rangers into the UEFA Cup group stage.
It was against Maritimo and the game went to penalties to decide who would go through. Vignal had balls of steel and early on in his Rangers stint, became a big hit as he smashed the ball into the net.
His next and final goal for the club came against Celtic in February 2005. Incredibly, Vignal later revealed he had played that game with a broken arm but it didn’t deter him from firing in the opening strike at Parkhead, as Rangers won 2-0.
Vignal won a league and cup double that season and was keen to sign a permanent contract with Rangers. But they couldn’t agree a deal and he went on to sign for Portsmouth.
Ianis Hagi
- Loaned from: Genk
- Season on loan: 2019/20
- Loan appearances: 13
- Loan goals: 3
- Loan assists: 2
Ianis Hagi arrived in Glasgow with big expectations and thankfully, he lived up to them almost instantly.
The son of Romania’s greatest ever footballer Gheorghe, Ianis was loaned to Rangers for six months in January 2020 by Belgian side Genk, who were managed by Philippe Clement the season before.
Steven Gerrard was the man to sign Hagi, who may as well claim to have scored two of the most important and dramatic Rangers goals before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt.
Of course, it was against Portuguese charges Braga in the Europa League as Hagi – a Rangers loanee for less than a month – scored twice to send the Govan side through to the last 16 of the competition.
Rangers trailed the second-leg 2-0 on the night, with Braga leading 2-1 on aggregate. But up stepped right winger Hagi to initially spark the comeback and then curl in the free-kick winner after Joe Aribo had scored minutes beforehand.
The celebrations were off the scale at Ibrox that night as Hagi earned a place in Rangers fans’ hearts and as one of the best Rangers loan signings ever.
