Rangers are poised to complete their first signing under new manager Derek McInnes, with former academy graduate Ross McCrorie set to return to Ibrox on a long-term deal from Bristol City.
McInnes was officially unveiled to the media on Thursday afternoon, and reports indicate the club has now wrapped up an agreement to bring the versatile defender back to Glasgow on a three-year contract—nearly six years after his initial departure to Aberdeen.
According to the Rangers Review, the club successfully fended off interest from multiple English sides to persuade the Scotland international to make a summer return. A fee in the region of £900,000 has been agreed, with additional performance-related add-ons potentially increasing the total outlay.
McCrorie, now 28, came through Rangers’ youth ranks alongside his brother Robby and made over 50 first-team appearances before leaving for Aberdeen to secure more regular game time. After three seasons at Pittodrie, he moved to Championship side Bristol City, where he has impressed—most notably during the 2023/24 campaign, which earned him a call-up to Scotland’s European Championship squad two years ago.
The defender becomes Rangers’ second arrival of the summer window, following former Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland, as the club looks to bounce back from a disappointing third-place finish under previous boss Danny Rohl last season. While McCrorie is capable of operating across the entire backline, he has featured primarily at right-back in recent months.
Following a problematic transfer window last year, Rangers are now leaning on a revamped recruitment structure. Technical director Dan Purdy and performance director Stig Inge Bjørnebye will work alongside chairman Andrew Cavenagh, CEO Jim Gillespie, and McInnes to assemble a squad capable of challenging for the Scottish Premiership title.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday about the club’s summer plans, McInnes said: “We have a recruitment team that will stay in constant dialogue with you. We identify the key positions we feel need strengthening.
“From there, conversations take place and work is done to bring players in—our first priority is always affordability and accessibility. There’s no point fishing in waters where we can’t realistically land players and wasting time. So we quickly narrow it down to a list of achievable targets.”
