Rangers announce season-long loan for former Hearts left-back Penrice

Rangers have signed left-back James Penrice from AEK Athens on a season long-loan.

The 27-year-old moved to the Greek Super League last season, after a year in Edinburgh, where he was part of the squad that won the title.

Penrice joined Hearts from Livingston in a free transfer and was one of the standout players in a season that saw Hearts finish seventh following a turbulent spell under three different managers.

He made 46 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals, in the 2024/25 campaign and went onto win the club’s Players’ Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year awards.

The left-back has also featured for Partick Thistle and East Fife.

He has now joined Rangers on a season-long loan, with the Ibrox club having an option to buy.

Penrice said: “It’s a bit surreal. It’s been a long time since I came through the building here as a youth player, but I’m delighted to finally get it done.

“It’s somewhere where at the start of my career I could only have dreamt of coming to play. It’s a dream now to get the chance to represent the club.

“I’ve been involved in Scotland for a while and you know what comes with the name.

“There’s only one objective and that’s to win stuff. When you don’t, there comes pressure. I’m fully aware of what is expected here.”

Manager, Derek McInnes, added: “We’re excited to welcome James to the club and believe he will be a very good addition to the squad.

“He plays in an area of the pitch where we are currently a little light, so it was important that we brought in someone who can bolster us in that position and provide competition.

“James already has valuable experience of the Scottish Premiership and understands the demands of the club, and from speaking to him it was clear he is hungry to work hard and continue progressing in his career.

“We are excited to start working with him and hopefully see him make a strong contribution for the club.”