Former Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty has returned to Scottish football after being announced at West of Scotland Football League side Johnstone Burgh.
The Northern Irish striker, 35, will team up another ex-Ibrox star in Graham Dorrans at the ambitious part-time club, who play in the seventh tier of Scottish football.
The surprise move comes after a stint with Northern Irish Football League club Linfield, which came to a conclusion at the end of the last season.
Johnstone Burgh will be Kyle Lafferty’s 16th club in an extensive career which has also seen the striker earn 85 caps and score 28 goals for the Northern Ireland national team.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Johnstone Burgh manager Jamie McKim said:
“I’m delighted Kyle has chosen to join us.
“We met him several times, to try and sell the project to him, and I’m delighted that he has bought into it.
“He will be huge on and off the pitch for us this season and I can’t wait to see him in action with his teammates.”
Kyle Lafferty joins Johnstone Burgh
Kyle Lafferty had two stints playing with his beloved Rangers in his career but now he’ll be turning out for Johnstone as they look to climb the Scottish football pyramid.
It’s a very interesting move and a complete surprise for those in the game that might’ve seen the striker playing at a higher level next season.
First joining Rangers from Burnley in 2008, Kyle Lafferty spent four years at Ibrox until 2012, playing 138 game and scoring 38 goals to help the club to three league titles, a Scottish Cup and two League Cups.
Rejoining the club under Steven Gerrard in 2018, things weren’t quite so successful for Lafferty and the big striker was released from his contract by the end of the season.
Prior to moving to Rangers, the striker also had a loan stint with EFL club Darlington, whilst Kyle Lafferty has also played for Sion, Palermo, Norwich City, Rizespor, Birmingham City, Hearts, Sarpsborg 08, Sunderland, Reggina, Kilmarnock, Anorthosis Farmagusta and Linfield before joining Johnstone.
Having had experience playing in England, Scotland, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, Norway, Cyprus and Northern Ireland, the big man has certainly been about the block, and we wish him all the best at his new club.
