Former Sheffield United favourite released by top-flight club after three years

Former Sheffield United midfielder John Lundstram has been released by Rangers after three years at Ibrox. The 30-year-old had been with the Scottish club since 2021, when he left Bramall Lane after four years.

As many as 98 league appearances, A Scottish Cup, League Cup and a Europa League final later, Lundstram has now departed at the end of his contract. The midfielder made 53 appearances across all competitions last season, but he moves on to find a new challenge elsewhere.

Rangers confirmed in a statement: “Rangers Football Club can today confirm the departures of Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Jon McLaughlin and Kemar Roofe following the expiry of their contracts. With a combined 23 seasons at the club, all five players have represented Rangers with commitment and dedication over a number of years.

“They were all part of the squad that guided Rangers to the UEFA Europa League final in Seville, with Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe lifting the league title with the club in 2020/21. All five leave as Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup winners with Rangers in recent years. Everyone at Ibrox and Rangers’ Training Centre thank the departing players for their time at the club and wish them all the very best for their future careers.”

Rangers boss Philippe Clement will be looking to make changes to his squad this summer having seen his side fall short in the Scottish premiership and in the Scottish Cup final, both to Celtic. This will also be Clement’s first summer in charge of the club, meaning this is the first opportunity he will have to shape his squad the way he wants it.

“You can say things but you need to do things and see things,” Clement said of the club’s summer plans. “Promises and plans are not enough, it’s about how you execute it and what you do with that.

“We are going to see that in the next weeks and months but I am really convinced that the will is there at the club. That was also the point of coming here. I felt that the people here at the club wanted to take steps, wanted to work hard and they were also honest in many ways about what was going wrong at the club six months ago. The honesty is there also now.”

Lundstram, who will be searching for a new club this summer, potentially returning to the Championship, has been complimentary of Clement in the past, saying: “He has been great, he has really galvanised the squad and thankfully we are repaying him with results. Just enjoying it at the minute and hopefully we can keep it going.

“It is a massive game again [on Sunday] and they come thick and fast. We don’t quite have time to breathe but we are looking forward to it. We can’t wait to get going again. It is what this club is built on. We are all looking forward to it and we are going into the game to win it. There is no alternative. We have got to get over the line first, of course, and we just have to do our best and give ourselves a platform to build on.”