'A dream come true' - Lawrence Shankland completes Rangers transfer as boyhood fan fulfils lifelong ambition

Scotland star makes long-awaited Ibrox move on free transfer from Hearts - while the Jambos wave him off with a statement that said almost nothing at all

Lawrence Shankland has finally got the move he always wanted - and he is not hiding how much it means to him.

The Scotland striker, 29, has signed a two-year deal at Ibrox, joining on a free transfer from Hearts and becoming Rangers’ first signing of the summer window. And in his first interview with RangersTV, the new No. 9 made no attempt to play it cool.

“I am delighted to get this opportunity it feels like a long time coming, to be honest,” Shankland said. “The amount of times I’ve been rumoured with it, but I am just delighted to get it done and to be a Rangers player. Rangers is my boyhood club, and it has always been a dream to play here.”

The links between Shankland and Rangers have been a constant of Scottish football rumour mills for several years. He admits interest was swirling around him again this week and the moment he knew it was real, his mind was made up in an instant.

“I just had to remain focused on my job at hand, but obviously, when I heard the interest was real this week, I was really keen to get it done,” he said. “The club is in a position where they want to get back to winning silverware more regularly. I want to be a big part of that and that’s what I come here to do.”

Shankland spent four years at Tynecastle, captaining the side and becoming one of the most reliable strikers in the Premiership. He guided Hearts to a title race that came agonisingly close at the end of last season, and he was gracious in acknowledging what Hearts gave him, even if the feeling was not exactly mutual, judging by the parting statement from the club.

“When you come to make the decision to leave, it’s never easy,” he said. “It was a bit easier, the fact that it’s obviously Rangers, but listen, Hearts have been a huge part of my life for the last four years and I’ll always be grateful to them for the opportunities they gave me.”

Before he pulls on a Rangers shirt, Shankland has one more date in the diary, the World Cup with Scotland this summer. He battled back from an injury near the end of the season to force his way into Steve Clarke’s squad, and he is not about to waste a moment of it.

“It’s going to be a brilliant experience for me and for my family,” he said. “I just need to take it in my stride for now. But when the moment comes to reflect on it, I will. First the World Cup, then back here to get started.”