Rangers’ Defender Exit Sparks Major McInnes Concern: Was This The Right Defensive Call For The Club? | OneFootball

Rangers have agreed a deal that will take their 29-year-old Scotland international centre-back John Souttar to Aris in Greece, with the player expected to fly out on Sunday, September 13, to complete the move. The Greek club have reportedly agreed terms with Rangers and plans to hand him a three-year contract after his arrival. Aheed Abrar of Ibrox News reported the agreement on September 10, giving the transfer a firm new twist after weeks of uncertainty around the defender’s position at Ibrox.

Souttar has not featured since Derek McInnes became manager and has missed out on the competitive squad picture this season, despite remaining under contract. Greece can still register him because their transfer window stays open after Scotland’s window closed on September 3. Aris now see him as a major defensive addition, which could bring an abrupt end to his time in Glasgow. This deal gives the exit saga a clearer route.

Was this the right defensive call for Rangers?

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JANUARY 06: John Souttar of Rangers during the William Hill Premiership match between Rangers and Aberdeen at Ibrox Stadium on January 06, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Rangers are taking a needless risk by letting an experienced Scotland defender leave while their central defensive numbers already look thin. Ben Godfrey is just returning from an injury, Emmanuel Fernandez has yet to produce the consistency expected from him, and Olwethu Makhanya is still learning in a demanding environment. That leaves McInnes with very little room for manoeuvre if another injury strikes.

Dujon Sterling and Ross McCrorie can cover centrally, yet emergency cover carries a cost. Both players offer useful versatility, but asking them to spend long spells at centre-back could weaken other areas and force tactical changes. A routine injury crisis in December could therefore become a serious selection problem, with Rangers potentially dropping points because the squad lacks a senior specialist.

The bigger concern lies in the decision-making. Souttar’s Rangers spell never reached the level many expected after he arrived from Hearts, while injuries and changes in management repeatedly interrupted his progress. Even so, he offers international experience, composure on the ball and a passing range that could have helped McInnes build from the back.

McInnes has clearly decided the defender no longer belongs in his plans, but the timing makes the move hard to defend. The club renewed Souttar’s contract in February, yet months later it now appears ready to lose a player who could still contribute during a packed campaign. That creates a dangerous trade-off for a team chasing trophies across competitions. Rangers now face a foreseeable problem in January, when the hierarchy may need to find a natural centre-back simply because it chose to remove one first.