Rangers 2025/26 Season Preview: Transfers, Line-Up, Title Hopes | OneFootball

Rangers have mirrored Arsenal’s recent Premier League theme in the Scottish Premiership, consistently flirting with a success story, but always falling just short.

Forced to live in the shadow of their arch-rivals Celtic, Rangers head into the 2025/26 season with renewed optimism, following a transitional summer, seeking redemption for past failures.

Another underwhelming campaign allowed the Gers’ fiercest opposition to draw level in terms of Premiership titles, with both teams now boasting 55 each.

Regaining the lead in the all-time stakes will be an added incentive for the Ibrox outfit to come out swinging in 2025/26, determined to reclaim their status as Scotland’s most decorated club.

However, since famously halting Celtic’s dominance in 2020/21 under Steven Gerrard, Rangers have fallen back to their old habits, finishing second in three consecutive seasons.

Last year was not even close as the Hoops left the Gers 17 points behind, even though Barry Ferguson’s side avoided defeat in all three Old Firm showdowns, including two victories.

Here’s our Rangers season preview for 2025/26.

Rangers Fixtures

Having successfully navigated the second round of Champions League qualifying against Panathinaikos, the first Rangers’ league fixture is at Motherwell on August 2.

The Gers’ opening home match pits them against familiar foes Dundee on the following weekend before a trip to St Mirren.

With the first 2025/26 edition of the Glasgow derby arriving on Matchday 4, beating St Mirren feels like a must-do, even though the most highly anticipated Premiership fixture takes place at Ibrox.

Rangers will host the Hoops again in late February. However, before that, the two most successful Scottish clubs will lock horns at Parkhead on January 3.

The former European Cup Winners’ Cup victors close the calendar year at home against St Mirren, while their final game before the split is at Falkirk.

Manager

Philippe Clement flopped at Ibrox, forcing Rangers to relieve him of his duties midway through last season and appoint Ferguson as an interim manager.

However, after failing to earn a permanent contract, the 47-year-old left the club at the end of the season, with the Gers turning to Russell Martin to restore their title-winning credentials.

Martin, who promotes a passing-oriented approach and patient build-up, belongs to the new wave of coaches graduating from Pep Guardiola’s footballing school.

It’s worth noting that his playing style didn’t work out in the Premier League.

Martin’s appointment remains a talking point, particularly after an embarrassing maiden season in top-flight management with Southampton.

Despite steering the Saints back to the Premier League, the 39-year-old oversaw just one win in 16 league games before being sacked in mid-December, with Southampton nailed to the bottom.

Perhaps he will have better luck in Scotland.

Transfers

Tired of playing second fiddle to Celtic, Rangers have been aggressive in the transfer market this summer without spending big.

Martin’s charges have acted with caution but efficiency, making Oscar Cortes’ permanent signing their standout move of the summer.

Cortes enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Ibrox last term, convincing the Gers to pay Lens €5.25 million to make his transfer permanent.

In addition to the 21-year-old winger, Rangers have signed Thelo Aasgaard and Emmanuel Fernandez for a combined fee of just over €6m.

However, Max Aarons stands out as the club’s most high-profile signing, despite joining on loan from Bournemouth.

Nasser Djiga has arrived on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers after featuring in the Champions League with Red Star Belgrade last term.

It’s impossible not to mention the arrival of Joe Rothwell, who helped Leeds United win the Championship title in 2024/25.

As for the outgoing front, Leon Balogun’s move to Aris Limassol on a Bosman deal is arguably the most notable departure.

Likewise, Ianis Hagi left Glasgow after five years as Rangers refused to offer him a new contract.

Starting XI

Southampton lined up in a 4-2-3-1 during their promotion-winning campaign in the Championship before the team’s disastrous results in the top flight forced Martin to change formation.

However, the young coach will likely stick with his preferred set-up, especially considering Rangers consistently used it under Ferguson in the second half of last season.

Although Liam Kelly started in the Gers’ first pre-season friendly, Jack Butland should remain the number-one choice between the sticks.

Captain Marcus Tavernier has a guaranteed starting berth at right-back, with Brazilian youngster Jefte likely to perform on the opposite flank.

Rangers struggled defensively last season, but John Souttar wasn’t part of the problem, meaning he should be a starting centre-back, perhaps alongside Djiga.

Meanwhile, Rothwell’s arrival should not affect Nicolas Raskin’s role in the double pivot, and it will unlikely faze Connor Barron, who was omnipresent in his first season at the club.

With Vaclav Cerny gone, Cortes could have more space on the right wing, while Mohamed Diomande and Hamza Igamane should complete the frontline behind a lone striker.

But that’s only if the latter stays at Ibrox. With Everton recently joining the race for the Moroccan forward, space could open for the newcomer Djeidi Gassama.

Cyriel Dessers has been the primary goal threat and should continue to be the Gers’ leading attacking figure this season.

(4-2-3-1): Butland; Tavernier, Djiga, Souttar, Jefte; Raskin, Barron; Igamane, Diomande, Cortes; Dessers.

Star Player

Dessers was Rangers’ most prolific player last term, bagging 29 goals in 55 matches, including 18 in the Premiership.

Despite winning the Golden Boot, there’s ample room for improvement, especially in terms of consistency and efficiency in high-stakes matches.

While his goal tally speaks volumes, Dessers often went missing in crucial fixtures, and stepping up in those decisive moments could solidify his status as a fan favourite.

Prediction

As aforementioned, the gap between Celtic and Rangers was substantial last season, highlighting the scale of the task awaiting Martin this term.

However, with a full pre-season and fresh ideas from the dugout, the Gers could make this campaign far more interesting.

It’s hard to back them for the title with conviction before the season starts, but it’s reasonable to expect a more dramatic title race.

Unfortunately for the Ibrox faithful, another runner-up finish looks likely.

Predicted finish: 2nd