With Glasgow Rangers underperforming in establishing an academy for a long time, it’s safe to say that they will often look elsewhere to strengthen their ranks, rather than promoting from within.
Not since Nathan Patterson (quickly sold for £11.5m) has a young player really enjoyed a long-term impact at first-team level, even if the stay at right-back was relatively short.
The 2025/26 season also saw no notable breakthroughs from the youth ranks, with the latest teen sensation at Ibrox coming in the form of Mikey Moore, who is currently on loan at Tottenham Hotspur.
The hope is that the dynamic will change next season under manager Danny Rolle, with high expectations placed on players such as Findlay Curtis following the 19-year-old’s surprise call-up to the Scotland squad.
Why Findlay Curtis was called up to the Scotland squad
It was Curtis, not Moore, who was the Garr’s brightest star in the early weeks and months of the season. The Scottish teenager scored three goals from all fronts, with club legend Ally McCoist suggesting there was “no big difference” between the young pair.
Despite these impressive cameos, Rolle’s arrival saw Curtis’ involvement diminish towards January, with the Glasgow side eventually allowing the versatile winger to join Kilmarnock on loan until the end of the season.
With one assist in six games, the change has already paid off as far as he is concerned, with Curtis being a shock addition to Steve Clarke’s recent squad announcement.
With Ben Gannon-Doak’s recent return from injury limiting options for Scotland’s side, Clarke will be keen to keep a closer look at loanee Killie ahead of friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast later this month.
With Curtis joining a group that also includes Rangers pair Liam Kelly and John Souter, the Scotland manager suggested the teenager could offer something “similar” to Gannon Doak from the wing.
“Hopefully Findlay can give us something similar. He’s not exactly the same type of player as Ben, but he can give us something similar,” he said.
“And we’ve always got to look ahead. Whether it’s me or the next head coach, we’ve got to try to get players that can gain experience on and off the team.”
A positive first impression and a possible inclusion in this summer’s World Cup squad can only be good for both Curtis and his parent club, and there may be signs that the establishment of an academy could prove even more fruitful in the future.
Rangers may already have signed a bigger talent than Curtis
It remains to be seen whether the aforementioned Moore will remain at Ibrox next season, so the Gers may already have a replacement in-house in the form of a new signing from the Premier League.
Rangers sold Moore an upgrade, now he’s worth more than anyone at Ibrox
Mikey Moore has been a shining star at Ibrox this season, but have Rangers already sold him an upgrade?
Indeed, like Moore, teenage winger Zebedee Lawson was also poached from England’s top tier last summer, with the then 16-year-old arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion with a view to playing first-team football.
According to transfer official Pete O’Rourke, the deal was seen as a “huge coup” at the time, and given Lawson’s progress since making his first-team debut against Annan Athletic in January, it’s easy to see why.
Rohr has also spoken of his desire to release 16-year-old Kyle Glasgow for the Scottish Cup, but is clearly keen to promote the club’s most exciting academy asset, and it is perhaps surprising that he has overlooked Curtis slightly in the autumn.
Either way, at just 17 years old, Lawson may represent a bigger talent. It reflects that Moore is a dynamic and exciting import from south of the border, terrorizing defenders with his ability to drive towards opponents and cut in from the flanks.
The left-footed player, who usually plays on the right wing, was notable for scoring a first-half hat-trick in a 9-0 win over Darvell in the Scottish Youth Cup in October, and already looked like a player above his class for his age group.
With Premiership clubs often having to contend with losing their best players to English clubs, it was significant that Rangers were able to tempt Lawson to go in the opposite direction, with the teenage winger clearly hoping to land a more permanent first-team spot.
Most Valuable Rangers Academy Player | |
|---|---|
player | market value |
lewis ferguson | £17m |
Nathan Patterson | 9 million pounds |
Greg Taylor | £4.3m |
ross mccrory | £2.5m |
Robbie Ure | £1.7 million |
david bates | 1 million pounds |
lewis morgan | 1 million pounds |
ryan hardy | 900,000 pounds |
mark leonard | 900,000 pounds |
Of course, patience is required with such young talent, but while players like Zac Lovelace have failed to live up to the hype at Ibrox in previous years, there is certainly reason to be excited about Lawson.
Rohr’s current winger squad isn’t up to the task at the moment, and the German discounted the aforementioned Curtis earlier in the campaign, so the future could instead belong to the likes of Lawson or Glasgow in the wide.
Indeed, if Moore is going to enjoy a solitary campaign at Ibrox, someone will need to come forward in his place…
Rangers brought gold to Ibrox star, who is a hybrid of Tavernier and Kent.
The Rangers hit the jackpot on this star player who looks like a cross between James Tavanier and Ryan Kent.
