McAuley will become Rangers’ fourth new centre-back at Ibrox this summer.
Rangers have signed veteran defender Gareth McAuley on a free transfer after he was released by Championship side West Bromwich Albion, and he is expected to provide cover for Rangers’ senior centre-backs.
For the majority of Steven Gerrard’s tenure as manager, Rangers have had Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic as their only options at the heart of the defence – before signing Joe Worrall on loan from Nottingham Forest.
The Gers have waved goodbye to the likes of Fabio Cardoso, Bruno Alves, David Bates and loanee Russell Martin this summer, leaving them light at centre-back.
But Gerrard has finally addressed the situation by landing England youth international Worrall, while 38-year-old McAuley has signed a one-year deal at Ibrox – despite turning 39 in December.
It gives Gerrard a mix of experience, exuberance, and trusted quality at centre-back in his four options, but youngster Kyle Bradley will be regretting his decision to remain at Ibrox rather than requesting a loan move.
Bradley, 19, will have been optimistic about gaining a place in the Rangers side, after making his debut for five minutes last season during a 2-1 win against St. Johnstone. He then made the bench against FK Shkupi in Macedonia.
With just two centre-backs on the books in Goldson and Katic, Bradley was arguably third choice and the first reserve to replace with defender. But now Worrall and McAuley have been signed, his chances of first-team football have plummeted.
Bradley has just one more year remaining on his current contract and is in desperate need of first-team game time to show Gerrard and Rangers he is deserving of a longer stay.
Surely then, the centre-back will be ruing his decision not to leave the club on loan this summer to a Scottish Championship side in a bid to prove to Gerrard he has what it takes to impress in a Light Blue shirt.
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