BREAKING NEWS;Rangers confirm return of former player Ianis Hagi after contract stand-off

Ianis Hagi returns to Rangers first-team after contract stand-off.

Ianis Hagi has returned to the Rangers first-team squad – bringing an end to the stand-off between club and player.

Hagi, who spent last season on loan at La Liga outfit Deportivo Alaves, has been playing and training with the B team this season after returning from his time with the Romania squad at Euro 2024.

Philippe Clement stated publicly that the 26-year-old was not viewed as a long-term solution at No.10, with a contract clause complicating Hagi’s reintegration when no transfer away from Ibrox materialised over the summer window.

Hagi had also publicly discussed the possibility of an Ibrox exit before playing for Romania this summer after a frustrating spell in his career.

However, the Rangers Review understands that a solution has been reached following dialogue between the two parties with a desire to resolve the situation expressed on either side. Hagi has since returned to first-team training ahead of the club’s remaining fixtures before the upcoming October international break.

The attacking midfielder is not in the European squad for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Lyon but could be in contention to feature in Sunday’s Scottish Premiership meeting with St Johnstone.

Hagi is believed to be fit and ready having continued to work with the B team over the past couple of months.

The attacking midfielder joined Rangers on loan from Genk in January 2020 before a permanent move that summer. He was an important member of the squad that won an invincible league title under the guidance of Steven Gerrard in 2021, with 19 goals and assists.

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When Giovanni van Bronckhorst replaced Gerrard at Ibrox the following November Hagi was largely constrained to a place on the wing, but remained an important member of the Dutchman’s squad.

However, the midfielder suffered a serious knee injury during a Scottish Cup tie with Stirling Albion in January 2022 that would see him miss over a year of football. After tearing his ACL and damaging the collateral ligament in his knee, he wouldn’t play again until the following January.