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James Penrice has enjoyed a remarkable week marked by his first senior semi-final victory and a maiden Scotland call-up, prompting Rangers manager Derek McInnes to express a strong desire to keep the player at Ibrox. The 27-year-old left-back made an immediate impact after joining Rangers on loan from AEK Athens, turning in a player-of-the-match display in his first outing with a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win over St Mirren.
Transfer Situation and Manager’s Stance
AEK Athens paid £2m for the former Partick Thistle and Livingston defender in July 2025 following a standout year with Heart of Midlothian. During his time in Greece, Penrice made 32 appearances and helped the club secure their 14th national title. His current loan at Rangers includes an option to buy, though recent reports suggest AEK might want to renegotiate following his strong form, while other reports indicate a previously agreed fee of £1.2m.
Speaking about the situation, Derek McInnes told BBC Sport, “I’ve made my feelings clear on it. Ideally, we’d like to have done it on a permanent, but the best way forward at the time was a loan. I think we are all aware of what it needs to be to make it permanent, but I think there is a lot of goodwill all round and that is something we would like to do.”
Tactical Versatility and Fan Popularity
McInnes surprised Celtic during a League Cup meeting by deploying Penrice in midfield at Ibrox, a tactical decision that paid off as Rangers secured a 3-0 victory, followed by a 1-0 win at Celtic Park a week later. Praising the player’s contribution, McInnes stated, “What he’s done since the first minute is just play with so much enthusiasm. He brings quality and energy. The fans take to him because of how he performs and how much he wants to win.”
International Recognition and Future Prospects
Penrice admitted to RangersTV that receiving his first Scotland squad selection for upcoming Nations League matches against North Macedonia and Switzerland brought a “weird feeling” and a sense of pride, noting he never expected a call-up during the early stages of his career. Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli described the selection as logical, while McInnes noted it came as no real surprise given the defender’s current form.
Competition for the left-back position is intense, with captain Andy Robertson nearing a caps record, Kieran Tierney holding 58 caps, and Josh Doig playing in Serie A. Looking ahead, McInnes emphasized the player’s attitude, stating, “The thing that screams out of James is hunger. He’s driven himself to get to where he is now. He plays with hunger and he trains with hunger.”
