Rangers Sign Japanese Winger Daisuke Yokota from Hannover 96

Rangers have made a decisive move in the final stretch of the summer transfer window, securing Japanese winger Daisuke Yokota from Hannover 96 in a deal that underscores their ambition heading into a crucial campaign.

The 26-year-old arrives at Ibrox for an initial £2.75m, with additional add-ons attached, having penned a three-year contract that includes the option of a further 12 months—a structure that reflects Rangers' confidence in the player's potential. His arrival marks the club's ninth summer addition, signaling an aggressive overhaul of the squad.

Yokota's pedigree has been earned across some of Europe's most competitive leagues. Starting his career in Tokyo, he headed to Germany at just 18, cutting his teeth in the academies of FSV Frankfurt and FC Carl Zeiss Jena before carving out his breakthrough in Latvia. There, with Valmiera, he delivered the goods when it mattered most—eight goals and ten assists proved instrumental in the club's maiden championship triumph in 2022. Spells in Poland with Górnik Zabrze followed before he moved to Belgian side Gent in 2024, though it was his loan move to Hannover 96 that truly showcased his abilities. The German club made that arrangement permanent last season, and Yokota repaid their faith with five goals and four assists in the second division.

Manager Derek McInnes was keen to explain the signing's appeal: a player who combines pace and directness with genuine quality in the final third—exactly what Rangers needed to strengthen their attacking options.

With Jagiellonia Białystok awaiting in the Europa League third-round qualifier on Thursday, Yokota could yet feature in Rangers' continental push this season, adding another dimension to a squad being reshaped with clear intent.