Upward path for Penrice has McInnes eager for Rangers deal

What the report says

Rangers manager Derek McInnes has said he wants to turn James Penrice’s loan move into a permanent signing, following a strong start to life at Ibrox and a first call-up to the Scotland squad. BBC Sport Football reports that the 27-year-old left-back, signed on loan from AEK Athens, has quickly become an important figure for Rangers, adding energy, versatility and decisive contribution in recent matches.

Penrice has already made a notable impact on results. In his first Rangers appearance of the season, he scored and assisted in a 5-1 win over St Mirren, and he later set up the only goal in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final victory over Aberdeen at Hampden. He was also used in midfield in a league cup win over Celtic, a move that helped Rangers control the game, according to McInnes.

The report says the loan deal includes an option to buy, and there is reported interest in discussing the future arrangement, although the exact fee and terms are not confirmed in the article. AEK Athens signed Penrice for £2m in July 2025 after a strong season with Heart of Midlothian, and he has since added to his profile with a first senior Scotland call-up for the Nations League matches against North Macedonia and Switzerland.

McInnes said Penrice’s form and attitude have made him a player the club would like to keep, while also noting the depth of competition at left-back for Scotland, where Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney and Josh Doig are all options.