Jermain Defoe: Title-winning striker leaves Rangers as Itten returns
- Published
Jermain Defoe (right) made his final Rangers appearance in November
Jermain Defoe has left Rangers after three years at the club.
The former England striker, 39, joined initially on loan from Bournemouth in 2019 and made his stay permanent the following year.
Defoe scored 32 goals in 74 Rangers appearances and helped the side win last season's Scottish Premiership.
Meanwhile, Rangers have recalled Swiss striker Cedric Itten, 25, from his loan with Greuther Furth and loaned Stephen Kelly, 21, to Salford City.
Itten, capped seven times for his country, scored six goals in 37 appearances for Rangers last term and netted twice in 12 appearances for Bundesliga side Greuther Furth.
Midfielder Kelly has played three times for Rangers and has spent the past two seasons on loan, firstly at Ayr United then at Ross County.
Defoe had this term combined playing with coaching under former manager Steven Gerrard and the club said Defoe "will always be fondly remembered".
Rangers, who appointed Giovanni van Bronckhorst as Gerrard's replacement in November, said: "His final appearance for the club on the park was the 3-1 defeat of Livingston back in November.
"The fantastic ovation he received from the Rangers support at Almondvale as he entered the action that afternoon was testament to the high regard he is held in by the fans."
The Ibrox side, who are top of the Scottish Premiership, return from the league's winter break away to Aberdeen on Tuesday.
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