Just days after Cyriel Dessers completed his highly anticipated move to the club, Rangers have also announced that fellow Super Eagles teammate Leon Balogun will also be joining the club for another spell.
The 35-year-old veteran defender re-signed for The Gers just one year after he exited the club and the transfer was prompted by a serious ankle injury to Leon King.
Coming home 🏠 @RangersFC pic.twitter.com/XM7fZoTpbh
— Leon Aderemi Balogun (@LeonBalogun) July 12, 2023
He joins the Scottish giants as a free agent and Rangers manager, Micheal Beale was delighted with having his services at the club once again.
Leon Balogun's return excites Rangers boss
“Leon is a person that I have full trust in both as a footballer and a man,” Beale said to the club’s official website.
“He is extremely well-liked by everyone inside the club, and we are very happy to have someone with his experience and leadership qualities re-joining our squad. Naturally he will integrate back into the club very quickly and he understands fully our way of working and style of play.
Balogun is the club's seventh signing of the summer as they look to close the gap between them and last season's Scottish champions, Celtic. It remains to be seen whether their business in the transfer market will end there.
The player was also excited to be back at the club and he described the feeling of being at the Ibrox again as unreal.
“I am just excited to be honest, it is still a bit unreal but it is very real, so I am just really really happy to be back at Rangers – it feels like coming home.”
“Since I have left, I have always felt a lot of appreciation and love from friends I have made in Glasgow and around the club and now that I am back it is nice to say the least.
In his first spell at the club, Balogun won the Scottish Premiership as well as the Scottish cup. He will be looking to replicate such success in his second spell.
Leon Balogun will boost his Super Eagles chances with Rangers return
Balogun may not be a prominent feature in the Super Eagles squad of late, but a move like this accompanied with strong performances may see him get considered in the heart of the Nigerian defence.
Balogun spent a big chunk of his 46 Super Eagles caps as part of the very popular Oyinbo Wall alongside current vice captain, William Troost-Ekong. A return to form for him may see a rekindling of that partnership at AFCON 2023.
At 35, that may also be a good opportunity for him to bow out of international football after an illustrious career with the Nigeria National football team.
Rangers has been a home to some talented Nigerians of late, with Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey playing key roles during their time at the club. With the signing of Dessers, he is expected to help his team in a huge way with the goals that would help them win major honours.
This article was most recently revised and updated 10 months ago
