JAMIE Murphy has said that it will be a boyhood dream come true to play for Rangers, after flying into Glasgow yesterday to finalise a £1million move to the Ibrox club.
Murphy, who started his career in Scotland with Motherwell before enjoying spells at Sheffield United and Brighton, has supported Rangers all of his life, and underwent a medical yesterday afternoon ahead of his return north. The 28-year-old has been aware of the interest in him from Ibrox for quite some time, and had been hoping that a deal could be struck with Brighton after he found first-team opportunities hard to come by this season, following the south-coast club’s promotion to the English Premier League.
There are still some details to be ironed out, but Murphy should be confirmed as a Rangers player this afternoon, and he couldn’t be happier at the prospect of pulling on the light blue jersey. “Obviously it’s Rangers,” he said. “It’s the club I supported as a boy and still support now.”
The capture of Murphy is the second signing made by Rangers already in the January transfer window, after bringing in Sean Goss on loan from Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday. Manager Graeme Murty had stated he wanted to get his business done early in the window, and it looks as though the board are keen to back his plans as they look to improve upon an inconsistent first half of the season.
Murphy has been impressed by what he has seen of Rangers so far this term, though, and he is hoping he can help to strengthen the side.
“It’s been a good season so far [for Rangers],” he said. “They’re always looking to improve so hopefully I can be a part of that. Hopefully we’ll get the medical through and then we’ll see what happens.”
Murphy came through the ranks at Motherwell after joining their youth set-up in 2002, making his debut four years later and enjoying a successful spell in Lanarkshire.
He joined Sheffield United, then in League One, in 2013, where he played under former Rangers captain and assistant manager Davie Weir. After establishing himself in the English lower leagues, he was snapped up by Brighton in the summer of 2015 for a fee of around £2m, helping the club in their promotion last season.
After splashing a club record £13m on winger José Izquierdo in the summer though, Murphy found himself edged out of Chris Hughton’s side. Rangers have also confirmed former player Jimmy Nicholl as their assistant manager, securing his release from Falkirk, and the Northern Irishman was delighted and surprised to be back on familiar ground.
“I know so many of the staff and the guys in the academy - that’s great as it means I’m not walking into a strange environment,” Nicholl told Rangers TV. “I got the opportunity all those years ago with John Greig and Jock Wallace, and then I thought that was going to be it, I’d had my wee spell and fulfilled one of my ambitions.
“Then, three years later I was back with Graeme Souness and Walter Smith.”
Meanwhile, teenage defender Myles Beerman has joined Championship outfit Queen of the South on loan until the end of the season.
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