Rangers have officially announced the signing of Serbian midfielder Vanja Dragojevic from Partizan Belgrade. The transfer concludes a pursuit that reportedly began three months ago for the player, who joins the Scottish Premiership club on a four-year contract. The deal includes an option for an additional year, potentially extending his stay at Ibrox.
Dragojevic, who is 20 years old, arrives as the seventh signing for Rangers during a busy summer transfer window. His move is contingent on receiving international clearance and a successful visa application. He is the third midfielder to join the club this window, following the arrivals of Cammy Devlin and Dan Neil. Other summer acquisitions include Lawrence Shankland, Ross McCrorie, Ben Godfrey, and Ivor Pandur.
Dragojevic’s Background and Potential
The midfielder comes to Rangers with a strong reputation from Partizan, where he served as captain. Derek McInnes, the Rangers manager, expressed his enthusiasm for the new signing. McInnes highlighted Dragojevic’s significant potential, his exciting attributes, and the character he possesses to thrive in the club’s environment. The manager noted that Dragojevic’s captaincy of a club the size of FK Partizan at a young age speaks volumes about the respect he commands and his inherent leadership qualities. McInnes believes Dragojevic will be a valuable addition to the squad and looks forward to working with him.
Dragojevic joined Partizan’s youth system in 2021. He signed his first professional contract two years later and was subsequently loaned to Teleoptik, a third-tier club. Within four months of that loan, he secured a new deal with Partizan that was set to run until 2030, reportedly including a release clause of £12.75m. He made his debut for Partizan’s first team in March of the previous year.
During the last season, Dragojevic established himself as a regular starter and captain for Partizan. He scored four goals and provided four assists across 41 appearances, primarily playing as a defensive midfielder. Partizan concluded their season in third place in the Serbian SuperLiga. He also participated in both legs of Partizan’s Conference League third qualifying round against Hibernian. In the first leg, Partizan secured a 3-2 victory at Easter Road despite finishing with 10 men, but they were ultimately eliminated from the competition with a 4-3 aggregate loss after extra time.
Player’s Perspective and International Experience
Dragojevic shared his excitement about joining Rangers, describing the feeling as amazing, happy, and proud to be part of such a significant club. He views the move as a major opportunity and is eager to begin his new chapter. He revealed that he first learned of Rangers’ interest three months prior and found the prospect of moving to the Premiership immediately appealing. Dragojevic stated that the winning mentality at Rangers aligns with his own.
Reflecting on his departure from his homeland, Dragojevic acknowledged his gratitude to Partizan. He credited the club for his development as a footballer, from his early days in their youth system to the honour of captaining the team. He expressed that every moment with Partizan has been special and will remain in his heart. He conveyed his thanks for the memories, lessons, friendships, and emotions that he will carry with him, adding that a part of him will always remain in Humska.
On the international stage, Dragojevic has earned two caps for his country. He made his debut as a second-half substitute in May, during a match where Cape Verde defeated Serbia 3-0 as part of their preparations for the World Cup finals. He later started in a match against tournament co-hosts Mexico, which resulted in a 5-1 defeat for Serbia.
Rangers are scheduled to commence their league campaign next week against Dundee United.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
