Rangers have completed the signing of Scott Arfield at Ibrox.
Rangers have landed their first signing of the Steven Gerrard era in the form of Scott Arfield from English Premier League side Burnley on a free transfer – and Celtic coach Shaun Maloney has told BBC Sport that he is a good acquisition.
Arfield, 29, has put pen to paper on a four-year deal in a move that sees him return to Scottish football eight years after the Livingston-born Canada international left Falkirk to join Huddersfield Town.
Director of football Mark Allen claimed in his press conference that incoming manager Gerrard had approved the purchase of Arfield, in what is the first buy of what is likely to be a busy summer window.
Maloney, who played for Celtic before retiring in 2017 and became a coach under Brendan Rodgers, believes the signing of Arfield is a good one for Rangers but claimed it will not change Celtic’s approach to the 2018-19 season.
“Our preparations for next season will already have started a month, two, three months ago,” said Maloney. “I don’t think that will have changed regardless of who Rangers appointed as their manager, and their signings.
“I always thought he was a good player when I played against him. He’s been very good for Burnley for a period of years now. On the face of it, it looks like a decent signing.”
Arfield offers versatility across midfield, able to play deep or advanced in central midfield as well as offering cover out wide. Rangers already have a glut of central midfielders, so it remains to be seen where he will be used.
The Gers have been linked with a whole host of players since Gerrard was confirmed as Rangers’ new manager, but the signing of Arfield kicks off Rangers’ summer business.
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