Headline: Rangers Maintain Interest in James Penrice Despite Initial Offers to AEK Athens
The latest reports from Greek outlet Sport24, as cited by The Scotsman’s Barry Anderson, suggest that Rangers have not abandoned their pursuit of James Penrice, despite having submitted two offers to AEK Athens for the left-back. The club has made a loan offer that includes a purchase option, but the loan fee proposed does not meet the expectations set by the Super League club. Nonetheless, there remains cautious optimism among the parties involved.
Penrice, 27, began his career in the academy at Partick Thistle before making his Premiership debut late in the 2015-16 season. He enjoyed loan spells at East Fife and Livingston, where he secured regular playing time, and ultimately became a starting member of Thistle when they were relegated to the Scottish Championship.
After running down his contract, Penrice returned to Livingston ahead of the 2021-22 season, playing regularly in the top flight over the next three years. He joined Hearts on a free transfer in the summer of 2024, where a standout season at Tynecastle led to a £2 million move to Athens a year later.
Why Rangers Must Accelerate Talks
During the previous term, Penrice made 33 appearances for AEK Athens and frequently rotated with teammate Stavros Pilios. He did not play in the Greek Super Cup match against OFI Crete, where the team lost on penalties. Recently, he has been asked to seek a new club to ensure regular playing time. Meanwhile, Rangers, who are currently exploring a possible reunion with Jayen Meghoma, must intensify their efforts after Tuur Rommens suffered an injury.
Rommens has impressed since his transfer from Westerlo, and Meghoma, currently on loan from Brentford, filled the left-back role until the recent injury sidelined him for at least eight weeks following a match against Hibernian. In the interim, Dujon Sterling is likely to take his place for the upcoming Europa League clash against Jagiellonia Białystok. However, the club is under pressure to identify a long-term solution amid personnel challenges at Ibrox.
While Penrice may not fully replicate Rommens’ impact on the field, his experience in Scottish football could provide much-needed stability in defense. Renowned for his endurance and dynamic overlapping play, Penrice could effectively transition from defense to attack. With Rangers still seeking their first win under Derek McInnes, postponing any deal for the left-back could worsen their predicament, particularly with St Mirren set to visit Glasgow this weekend.
If a recent update from the Greek outlet Sport24 (as cited by The Scotsman’s Barry Anderson) is believed to be true, Rangers have not given up on James Penrice despite submitting two offers to AEK Athens for the left-back. The Light Blues have submitted a loan bid with a purchase option. However, the proposed loan fee has not matched the expectations of the Super League hotshots, even though there’s cautious optimism among all parties involved.
The 27-year-old Scotsman progressed through Partick Thistle’s academy ranks before making his Premiership debut late in the 2015-16 season. He then had loan spells with East Fife and Livingston in the lower divisions to grab regular minutes, but cemented a starting spot for the Jags upon their relegation to the Scottish Championship.
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Penrice eventually ran his contract down and returned to Livi ahead of the 2021-22 campaign. They were competing in the top flight, and the fullback represented them frequently over the next three years. Hearts snapped him up for free in the summer of 2024, and a scintillating season at Tynecastle earned him a £2m transfer to Athens a year ago.
Why Rangers Must Accelerate Talks
Meanwhile, the defender made 33 appearances for Double-Headed Eagle and was extensively rotated with Stavros Pilios throughout the previous term. The Albanian got the nod against OFI Crete in the Greek Super Cup, as the Scot remained an unused substitute in their defeat on penalties. He has been asked to find a new home for assured gametime, and Rangers, currently exploring a potential reunion with Jayen Meghoma, must step up the chase after Tuur Rommens’ injury nightmare.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JULY 26: Kyle Walker-Peters of West Ham United battles with Tuur Rommens of Rangers during a pre-season friendly match between Rangers and West Ham at Ibrox Stadium on July 26, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
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Rommens has been a shining light since his move from Westerlo. Meghoma, on loan from Brentford, was the preferred choice on the left until the Belgian arrived earlier this year. But he is now ruled out for at least eight weeks after sustaining a groin injury against Hibernian. Versatile Dujon Sterling is likely to deputise for the time being in their decisive Europa League return leg encounter against Jagiellonia Białystok. Nevertheless, the club must find a permanent solution amid the ongoing conundrum at Ibrox.
Penrice might not be as impactful as Rommens, but his experience in Scotland would bring stability in the defensive third. He is known for his exceptional stamina, energy, and aggressive overlapping, thus turning defence into attack with his explosive pace. Rangers have yet to win a game under Derek McInnes, and delaying a deal for the left-back would further complicate their situation, with St Mirren set to travel to Glasgow this weekend.
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