Rangers have signed Japanese winger Daisuke Yokota on a three-year deal with the option of an additional year, making him the Ibrox club’s ninth summer signing. The 26-year-old arrives having spent last season in the German second tier with Hannover, where he made 31 appearances and contributed five goals and four assists.
Yokota moved to Germany as a teenager and built his career across several European leagues, with spells at FSV Frankfurt, Carl Zeiss Jena, Valmiera in Latvia, and Gornik Zabrze in Poland. A switch to Belgian side Gent followed in 2024, but he struggled to break into the first team and spent time on loan at Kaiserslautern and Hannover before Hannover signed him permanently earlier this summer. Rangers have now moved to bring him to Scotland.
“I’m really excited to be joining Rangers,” Yokota said. “This is a massive club with a fantastic history, passionate supporters and high ambitions so it’s a proud moment for me. My aim is to help the team achieve success this season and I hope we can create some special memories together.”
Manager Derek McInnes confirmed the club had tracked Yokota for some time. “He brings qualities that we believe will really strengthen our attacking options,” McInnes said. “At 26, he has gained valuable experience across a number of different leagues in Europe. He is quick, direct and has the ability to make things happen in the final third.” The signing comes with Rangers’ wide options thinned after on-loan Tottenham player Mikey Moore returned to his parent club, while Findlay Curtis replaced Djeidi Gassama in Friday’s Scottish Premiership-opening 1-1 draw at Dundee United.
The deal remains subject to international clearance and a visa, and Rangers have not confirmed whether Yokota will be available for their Europa League third qualifying round first leg against Jagiellonia Bialystok in Poland on Thursday.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
