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James Penrice returns to Scotland as Rangers secure loan deal with option to buy Former Hearts left-back James Penrice joins Rangers on loan from AEK Athens, with an option to buy, as McInnes bolsters his squad. Left-back James Penrice has joined Rangers on a season-long loan from Greek champions AEK Athens, with the Ibrox club having an option to buy the 27-year-old at the end of the season. The move comes as manager Derek McInnes looks to bolster his squad after a difficult start to the season which sees the Ibrox club without a win in the league and beingg knocked out of the Europa League at the first time of asking. Coupled with injuries to defenders Ben Godfrey, Tuur Rommens, and Youseff Chermiti it’s not the start that McInnes had hoped for. The defender, who came through Rangers’ youth system before spells at Partick Thistle, East Fife, Livingston and Hearts, described the move as “a bit surreal”, adding that he was “delighted to finally get it done”. “You know what comes with the name,” he told club media. “There’s only one objective and that’s to win stuff. When you don’t, there comes pressure. I’m fully aware of what is expected.” Penrice spent last season in Greece’s top flight, making 32 appearances for AEK as they overcame reigning champions Olympiacos to secure their 14th national title. He now returns to the Scottish Premiership with more than 300 senior club appearances to his name. The deal was accelerated in the last 48 hours after Tuur Rommens was ruled out for up to seven or eight weeks with a groin injury, leaving McInnes with no out and out left back to call on. . Derek McInnes speaking after the signing of Penrice, said: “James already has valuable experience of the Scottish Premiership and understands the demands of the club. From speaking to him it was clear he is hungry to work hard and continue progressing in his career.” Penrice becomes the latest former Hearts player to link up with Rangers under McInnes as Ibrox looks to be turning into a Little Gorgie, continuing a pattern of the manager recruiting players familiar with the Scottish top flight. He is the club’s tenth summer signing, following arrivals of Lawrence Shankland, Ben Godfrey, Ivor Pandur, Olwethu Makhanya, Ross McCrorie, Cammy Devlin, Dan Neil, Daisuke Yokota and Vanja Dragojevic.