Gareth McAuley claims he rejected Premier League club for Rangers

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Rangers handed defender Gareth McAuley a dream Ibrox move in September.

Rangers defender Gareth McAuley has revealed to the Daily Record that he rejected a move to a Premier League club as he held out for a move to Ibrox.

The Gers were busy in the transfer market over the summer, bolstering Steven Gerrard’s squad with a host of additions, including a host of centre backs.

Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic came in permanently, and even after landing Joe Worrall on loan from Nottingham Forest, Gerrard felt more options were needed.

In September, Rangers pounced to land veteran centre back McAuley, handing him a contract until the end of the season after his exit from West Bromwich Albion.

The 38-year-old grew up supporting Rangers, and even if this is his final season in the game, he would be seeing out his career with the club he loves.

McAuley made his first start for the club on Saturday in the 3-0 win over Livingston, and turned in a performance which certainly impressed fans.

Now, McAuley has made a shock revelation, admitting that he snubbed a Premier League club in order to hold out for a move to Rangers after hearing that they may be interested – and eventually, Gerrard did hand him that dream move to Ibrox.

“This was the club I wanted to come to,” said McAuley. “There was a whisper at the end of last season that it might be a possibility so throughout the summer, I was knocking things back waiting to see if it’d happen. This was the one that gave me a spark and a buzz. I could have signed for another Premier League club but I’d probably have been involved in another relegation battle.”

“I’d done that for the past seven years at West Brom. Success there is always staying up. It’s different here at Rangers. I’ve got the chance to win trophies, to have that different pressure of playing every week to win. Second isn’t good enough here and that’s why I came. Winning is my only aim. My family is still down in England so it’s all I’m focused on,” he added.