Rangers new signing reflects on January transfer miss

The former Hearts, Livingston, and Partick Thistle left-back, who was part of the Rangers academy as a youngster, joined Ibrox as the tenth summer signing.

He signed a loan deal with an option to buy, meaning Rangers will pay AEK Athens £1.75 million next summer if they decide to keep him permanently.

Derek McInnes, the Rangers manager, had been open about his urgent need to boost the left-back position after Tuur Rommens sustained a hamstring injury that will see him sidelined for several weeks.

Penrice told Rangers TV: "It's a bit surreal. It's been a long time since I came through the building at Murray Park.

"But I'm delighted to finally get it done. It's been a hell of a couple of weeks, but it's done now."

The 27-year-old was only in Greece for a year after joining the capital side in a £2 million deal from Hearts last summer.

He was in and out of the team but played plenty of games to help AEK to the Super League title.

However, he has revealed he was close to a move to Ibrox back in January, just six months into his only season in Greece.

Penrice, who played with teammates Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin at Hearts, and knows some of the other squad members after playing against them, is confident about his potential impact at Ibrox.

He said: "I was in a real good vein of form at Hearts. It was a very good personal season but at the same time, I had to go and take the jump.

"I couldn't turn down a chance to play with AEK, and I'm thankful I did that.

"It was an unbelievable experience to win a league as well. It's something some players go through a full career and don't get that.

"So I'm very thankful for them. I think my time there was very successful. So it was a brilliant experience."

Penrice is aware of the expectations at Rangers and has no illusions about the task ahead.

He said: "There's no shying away and I've been obviously involved in Scotland for a while and you know what comes with the name.

"It's a massive club and there is only one objective - to win stuff. And when you don't, there comes the pressure. So I'm fully aware of what is expected here."

His career trajectory has been upward, moving from Thistle to Livingston, then Hearts, where he was club's player of the year, before his league title success in Greece.

His Partick Thistle debut was handed to him in 2016 by one of McInnes' coaches, Alan Archibald, whom he has great admiration for.

He said: "Many many years ago, but Archie was the first one that showed the faith in me when I was really young.

"He put me into the first team and gave me a number of starts. I've always had great admiration for him because he did that and he showed faith in me.

"So it's good to have a couple more friendly faces in the building."

With his new role at Rangers, Penrice is ready to continue his upward trajectory and make an impact.

He added: "I was in a real good vein of form at Hearts. It was a very good personal season but at the same time, I had to go and take the jump.

"I couldn't turn down a chance to play with AEK, and I'm thankful I did that.

"It was an unbelievable experience to win a league as well. It's something some players go through a full career and don't get that.

"So I'm very thankful for them. I think my time there was very successful. So it was a brilliant experience."

Rangers fans will be hoping he can carry his momentum and continue his successful streak at Ibrox.