Sone Aluko pays portion of compensation to seal Rangers switch

Sone Aluko has revealed he was so desperate to clinch a move to Rangers that he contributed personally to the compensation package agreed with former club Aberdeen.

The 22-year-old winger this afternoon penned a contract until the end of the season, with the option of a further two years, after impressing while on trial.

Aluko had been without a club since his Dons contract expired in the summer but the Pittodrie club insisted they were due compensation for developing the player during his four years in the Granite City.

Fearing his hopes of a move to the Scottish champions could fall through as a result of a stand-off between the two Clydesdale Bank Premier League sides, Aluko stepped in to help resolve the issue.

The Nigeria international told Blues News: "It's good to be here. It was great to get everything sorted out and as soon as I got the opportunity to come here, it was what I wanted.

"Anyone who has played in Scotland for longer than five minutes knows all about Rangers and Celtic and this is the biggest team in the country in my opinion.

"I had three days to wait before I actually got to come here for my trial so I'd had a chance to calm down by the time I arrived.

"I've not played a lot in the last four months but I knew that if I got an opportunity like this I had to be ready for it so I've kept working hard.

"There was a bit of a stand-off between the clubs for a while over compensation and that could have dragged on with tribunals and all the rest.

"But at some point someone is going to have to compromise and make a sacrifice and I'm the one who did that.

"I've almost bent over backwards to be here. Once I got the chance, I was adamant I wanted to be at Rangers and I can't thank the people around me enough for helping me get here.

"Now I'm ready to play if the manager needs me. I'll do that any time and although I'm a bit behind the boys, I'll do my best and give my all."

Aberdeen confirmed that the terms agreed involved the "receipt of training compensation, potential contingent payments and a sell on clause".

Chief executive Duncan Fraser told the club's website: "Despite press speculation to the contrary, the club has been adamant throughout that the principles under which an agreement could be reached involved the recognition of our right to training compensation and that we would only deal with another club directly and not through a third party.

"Rangers accepted these principles and, once they had decided that they would make a contract offer, we were able to agree a mutually acceptable position."

Aluko looks set to go straight into the squad for Sunday's visit to Kilmarnock.

And Rangers first-team coach Ian Durrant believes the new recruit will help fill the void left by Steven Naismith, who was ruled out for the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage.

He said: "It's well known with Steven being out that we're short up front and Sone can play in a variety of positions.

"He has also been in the SPL for a few years with Aberdeen so he brings a bit of experience to the team for such a young lad.

"It's not often you get the calibre of a player of Sone Aluko on a freedom of contract.

"He will be a great addition."

PA