Rangers Sign Kosta Nedeljkovic on Loan from Aston Villa
Rangers have won the race to sign right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic from Aston Villa, landing the Serbia youth international on a season-long loan with a built-in obligation to buy.
The 20-year-old moves to Ibrox in a deal that includes a £4m mandatory purchase clause, which will be activated depending on how many games he plays this season. Rangers beat off rival interest after Nedeljkovic held talks with manager Derek McInnes and fellow Serbian Vanja Dragojevic, who joined earlier in the summer.
A young defender with big-club grounding
Nedeljkovic only arrived at Villa Park in January 2024 from Red Star Belgrade but made 10 appearances for Aston Villa in that time. He also spent a season and a half on loan at RB Leipzig, picking up Bundesliga experience that clearly appealed to Rangers as they rebuilt their squad.
Now he steps into a club that has been aggressively reshaping its dressing room. Nedeljkovic becomes Rangers’ 11th signing of the summer window, and the recruitment drive is not finished yet.
“I am very excited, Rangers is such a big club, a big family and I am excited to join and help the team have success together,” Nedeljkovic said after the move was confirmed.
“For me, it was an easy decision after meeting with the coach, I only wanted Rangers. It is a big opportunity and a big responsibility. I always try to be positive and work hard so I am ready to help the team.”
McInnes’ blueprint takes shape
McInnes has made no secret of his desire to add energy and athleticism to his back line, and he believes Nedeljkovic fits that plan.
“Kosta is a talented young player who we are really pleased to bring to the club,” the Rangers manager said.
“He has already gained some valuable experience at a high level in England and Germany, as well as representing Serbia internationally. Kosta is an athletic and energetic full-back who is keen to get forward, but he also has a real desire to defend and compete and he will further strengthen a key area for us.
“I look forward to welcoming Kosta to Rangers, and working with him moving forward.”
The deal underlines Rangers’ shift towards younger, resaleable assets with top-level experience. A right-back who likes to attack, but who McInnes stresses “has a real desire to defend and compete”, points to a player expected to start quickly rather than simply develop in the background.
More business to come
Nedeljkovic’s arrival does not mark the end of Rangers’ summer rebuild. Club chiefs remain in the market for a new striker and a winger before the Scottish transfer deadline on 3 September.
Portland Timbers forward Kevin Kelsy and Brighton youngster Amario Cozier-Duberry are among those on the club’s radar as they look to add more cutting edge in the final third.
For now, though, the focus falls on the latest recruit. A £4m obligation to buy tied to game time is a clear statement: if Nedeljkovic plays, Rangers are committing to him as a long-term pillar of McInnes’ side.
