Ex-Rangers star finally joins new club 107 days after leaving Ibrox as he makes ’emotional’ move to country of his birth

FOURTEEN new players were signed by Rangers this summer.

And one of the 17 who headed out of Ibrox has finally found a new club.

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A busy summer transfer window began with the pre-contract arrival of Lyall Cameron and permanent signing of Oscar Cortes.

It finished with a double deadline day deal for £8million striker Youssef Chermiti and defender Derek Cornelius.

It’s been a major turnaround in players for a new era at Ibrox, a turnaround that saw the exits of many big names at the end of last season.

Leon Balogun, Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence all led what would become a summer exodus when their contracts expired.

It was all the way back on May 20 when Rangers announced the three players were moving on.

Veteran defender Balogun didn’t have long to wait to find another club, linking up with former Gers teammate Connor Goldson at Aris Limassol in Cyprus.

Finding a new footballing home hasn’t, however, proved quite as easy for Hagi and Lawrence.

Wales international Lawrence has been training out in Dubai to boost his fitness until a new club comes calling.

While his search goes on, Hagi’s wait is now OVER.

He was regularly linked with a switch to Turkey during his five-and-a-half-year stint at Ibrox and that’s where he’s now headed.

Hagi, 26, has joined Alanyaspor on a two-year contract.

It sees the midfield ace return to the country where he was born while his legendary dad Gheorghe was playing for Galatasaray.

It’s the first time Hagi Jr will have played in Turkey.

Alanyaspor reportedly fought-off competition from fellow Turkish side Fatih Karagumruk and Spanish outfit Elche to land him.

Hagi made 130 appearances for Rangers having initially joined on loan in January 2020.

The Romania international was part of the squad that won the league title in 2021 having joined the Gers permanently from Belgian club Genk the summer before.

He scored some big goals, including a memorable double in a 3-2 comeback win over Braga in the Europa League shortly after joining the club.

A knee injury suffered in January 2022 ultimately wrecked the second half of his Gers spell.

He spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan in La Liga with Alaves before returning to Rangers a year ago.

Hagi was frozen out of first team affairs under Philippe Clement but fought back to reclaim a first team spot.

He scored four goals in 31 games in what proved to be his final campaign as a Rangers player.

That included the opening goal in a 3-0 win over Celtic in January.

After joining Alanyaspor, Hagi spoke of an ’emotional’ return to the country where he was born.

He said: “First of all, I’m truly happy to be returning home to my birthplace. This is a very emotional moment for me.

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“This is a very important step in my career. I’m very confident.

“I can’t wait to join the team and represent our club in the best possible way.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has placed their trust in me throughout this process.”

Alanyaspor, based in the city of Alanya, finished 12th in the Turkish Super Lig last season.

They’re managed by former Portugal international Joao Pereira.

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