Leon Balogun Returns To Glasgow Rangers

Nigeria international, Leon Balogun became the seventh player to join Scottish club Glasgow Rangers this summer.

Leon Balogun who had spent two seasons of his football career at Rangers returned to the club on a free transfer from Championship club Queens Park Rangers.

He signed a one-year deal with the Scottish side which will keep him in Scotland until June 30, 2024.

Rangers were left with no choice but to go for Balogun after the club’s trusted defender Leon King sustained an ankle injury on Tuesday, July 11. The injury is expected to keep him out of football for almost half of the first phase of the forthcoming season.

The 35-year-old Nigeria international left Rangers last summer after the Scottish side failed to renew his contract, even though he had made it clear that he wanted to stay.

Before he was forced out of the club, Leon Balogun helped the club to win the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup within two seasons.

Balogun who has played in the Premier League and the German Bundesliga is expected to be one of the most experienced players at Rangers in the coming season as coach Michael Beale continues to rebuild the team.

After completing his return to Rangers, Leon Balogun said, “I am just excited, to be honest.

“It is still a bit unreal but it is very real, so I am just 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.

“I know second is no option, I know what people are going to say very quickly if we are not performing so it is time to get to work, put our best foot forward, and make sure we get the results that we need.”

While Rangers manager added, “Leon is a person that I have full trust in both as a footballer and a man.

“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.

“As a free agent, we were able to move quickly so that he could join us here in Germany. It was really nice to see the reception he received from the players and staff on joining us here at the camp.”