RANGERS Academy graduate Nathan Patterson has today joined Everton, with Gers receiving a club-record fee for the 20 year-old’s services.
After impressing massively in the Academy, Patterson was handed his debut in January 2020 at the age of 18, and has since made 25 appearances for the Rangers first-team.
Those 25 games have included two Old Firm matches and nine Europa League games – indeed he scored a superb goal against Royal Antwerp in the Last 32 last season, and started home and away and won praise for his performances against Slavia Prague in the Last 16 last season.
He lifted league championship number 55 in May with the rest of his Rangers teammates, and such was his impact towards the end of the last campaign that Scotland manager Steve Clarke elected to select the then-uncapped Patterson for his European Championships squad, with Patterson making his Dark Blue debut against Croatia in the Scots’ final group match.
Since then, he has nailed-down the right-back slot for Scotland, and set up the winner against Moldova in September and the winner against the Faroes in October before scoring his first international goal to help secure a World Cup play-off in the return match in Moldova in November.
Patterson has demonstrated the pathway from Academy to first-team can be there for every young player at Rangers and he now departs the club for the Premier League with the best wishes of everyone at the club.
Sporting Director, Ross Wilson commented “Personally, Nathan is someone that I’ve placed a lot of faith in since I joined Rangers. We saw top potential in him and I’ve enjoyed working with him and seeing him develop every day.
“Nathan is supported brilliantly by his family and as Rangers fans, I know they are extremely proud of his Rangers achievements.
“In terms of the detail of the transfer, I have been in discussions with Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright for a number of weeks. It has been a pleasure to deal with Bill - a man who represents his club with genuine class.
"It is true that there were previous discussions last summer but we were always clear that in our model players will only leave at the right time and for the right number.
“We have now established a significant club record and there will be even further financial incentives for Rangers as Nathan’s Everton career evolves.
“We were very clear in these discussions that Nathan is a player and person who we hold in the highest regard and the deal had to represent a club record for Rangers.
“Since I joined the club, I’ve been clear that we would be strong in the market and our chairman and board have been prepared to reject some significant sums for our players, whilst we have all acknowledged that we would sell the right player at the right time for the right value. I must say in this case also, this is the correct destination.
“Our Academy staff can be proud of the role they’ve played in Nathan’s development. We are proud of Nathan, he leaves as a champion and I will follow every step of his career and journey and he will always be connected to Rangers. I am sure we will see him back supporting the lads at Ibrox soon.”
Managing Director, Stewart Robertson added: “This is a deal which fits with our long-term, strategic vision for the club. We have been very clear that player trading is an important element of our business model but only when the circumstances suit Rangers.
“We are delighted for Nathan and his family, wish them all the best for the future and they will always be welcome back at Ibrox.”