Rangers attacker Sam Lammers joins Dutch side Utrecht on loan

Rangers forward Sam Lammers has moved to Utrecht on loan until the end of the season, the Ibrox club has confirmed.

The Dutchman failed to make a strong impression at Rangers since arriving in the summer and has moved back to his homeland on a short-term deal.

Lammers was signed by former Rangers manager Michael Beale as part of a revamp of the squad but, despite being a regular fixture in the side, he struggled to deliver goals or consistent performances.

The forward, who has scored twice in 31 appearances in light blue, has had more limited game time under new manager Philippe Clement and has now moved on in the hope of regular first team football in the Eredivisie.

It’s understood there is no fixed option for Utrecht to buy Lammers at the end of the loan.

“We welcome a driven striker in Sam,” Utrecht technical director Jordy Zuidam told the club’s official website. “He has specific qualities that we can use within the team.

“He knows the Eredivisie well, has gained experience abroad in recent years and can be deployed immediately. We are happy that Sam chose us and we can count on him for the rest of this season.”

#RangersFC can confirm that Sam Lammers has joined Dutch side FC Utrecht on loan for the rest of the season, subject to international clearance.

💙 Good luck Sam. pic.twitter.com/9Br0kiDwjP
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) January 10, 2024

Lammers signed a four-year deal with the Ibrox side after a £3.5m transfer was agreed with Atalanta in June.

Beale said at the time that he had signed a player that he had been tracking for years and would bring real ability to the Rangers attack.

“Sam will give us great technical and tactical quality, being able to play in a variety of attacking positions as a number ten or nine, ” the former Rangers boss said in June. “He was the first player I met with as part of the planning for the new season and during our lengthy discussions, it was clear that we share the same ideas on football and on his personal development moving forward.

“He has a strong alignment to the other players in our squad.”

Lammers began his career with PSV Eindhovern and impressed on loan at Heerenveen before his move to Italy in 2020. He had subsequent loan spells at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he helped the team on their run to Europa League triumph, as well as spells at Empoli and Sampdoria before his switch to Scotland.