Ryan Kent believes he has finally found his home at Ibrox after sealing a £7.5million Rangers return.
The former Liverpool youngster was a major hit on loan from Anfield last year as he was crowned Scotland’s Young Player of the Year.
But the 22-year-old was made to wait until the final hour on transfer deadline day to secure his move back to Glasgow after a summer of suspense and frustration.
With Reds chiefs insisting that the former England youth international would only leave on a permanent deal, it appeared Rangers would be priced out of a deal.
Kent was left to look at options elsewhere and having been heavily linked with a move to Leeds throughout the last few weeks, he was reportedly on his way to Club Brugge for talks when he got the call to about turn and head to Govan.
His deal – Rangers’ second most costly transfer ever – puts an end to his wandering years. Since 2015, Kent has spent time on loan at Coventry, Barnsley, Freiburg and Bristol City.
But it was with the Light Blues that he felt most settled and is now overjoyed to be back where he feels he belongs on a four-year contract.
“I’m delighted to be back,” he told RangersTV. “It’s been a quite a long summer, a lot of things could have potentially happened.
“But I never lost hope, there were probably moments when I thought it might not happen but I guess good things come to those who wait.
“It was massively important to find a home. For the past four years now I’ve been on the move to different places and last year was the first time I’ve felt content with the club I am at.
“I won’t lie it’s been incredibly tough over the summer but I’m a mentally strong person as it is anyway.
“I knew if I kept myself correct something good would happen soon and I’ve been ticking over, keeping myself to myself and this has happened now and I’m over the moon.
“I got a feel for what it was to be a Rangers player, I felt like there was unfinished business from last year and I’m hoping to put that right.
“My home is here now. I can’t wait to play at Ibrox again. It will be a really nice thing, especially for me and my family. This club was great to me last year and to be able to hopefully give them something back this season will be really good.”
Kent’s signing is the perfect pick-me-up for the deflated Rangers faithful after Sunday’s Old Firm defeat to Celtic.
And the player who gave the Hoops most trouble during last year’s derby clashes cannot wait to start repaying the faith the fans have shown in him.
He said: “The fans here are incredible, I’ve never come across any fans who even come close to Rangers fans. Throughout the whole transfer window the support from them for me to come back has been incredible, it has been overwhelming at times. Hopefully I can put on a big show for these people.”
Kent believes boss Steven Gerrard got the best out of him last term – and reckons he can reach new levels now he is back at Ibrox for good.
He said: “After last season I have evolved even more as a player and I think now if I could add that final end product to my game then it is going to be a good season for me and for the team.
“With Steven Gerrard as manager there is a lot of ambition that comes from him, he wants to win things.
“I think this coaching staff are obviously going in the right direction, I think the team have been excellent. Watching them has been tough but I have seen how well they have done so far this season and now I want to be back a part of it.”
