Leon King will remain at Ayr United for the remainder of the season after Rangers opted not to activate their option to recall the 22-year-old defender during the January transfer window.
With King’s contract at Ibrox due to expire in the summer, the decision effectively signals the likely end of his Rangers career.
The centre-back joined the Honest Men on loan in September and has quickly established himself at Somerset Park.
Ayr confirmed the news in a statement, saying they were “delighted” King would stay until the end of the campaign, while manager Scott Brown praised the defender’s impact.
“Leon’s been enjoying his football this season and you can see the quality he has,” Brown said.
“He’s a top player. He can play a huge part for us between now and the summer.”
For Rangers supporters, King’s story remains one of promise that never fully materialised at senior level.
A product of the academy, he broke into the first-team picture during the club’s historic 2020/21 title-winning season. He made his debut in a League Cup victory over Falkirk in November 2020 alongside disgraced midfielder Ciaran Dickson, with both earning praise from then-manager Steven Gerrard.
“They both look physically ready,” Gerrard said at the time.
“They are training like first-team players, not kids coming in to make the numbers up.”
King went on to make his Premiership debut away to Livingston in May 2021 and collected a league winners medal as Rangers clinched their first title in nine years with a 4-0 win over Aberdeen on the final day.
His early progress was rewarded with a lucrative contract extension in January 2022, followed by another deal later that year, reportedly worth around £8,000 per week. But the trajectory soon stalled.
During the 2022/23 season, King was thrust into the spotlight under Giovanni van Bronckhorst amid an injury crisis - with Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and John Souttar all out at the same time.
He featured in all six of Rangers UEFA Champions’ League group matches against Liverpool, Napoli and Ajax, both home and away. While the experience was invaluable, it came in the context of a brutal campaign that tested the young defender’s confidence.
After Van Bronckhorst’s departure, King managed just one minute of action under Michael Beale and struggled for consistent opportunities under both Beale and his replacement Philippe Clement.
A loan move to Queen’s Park last season offered limited relief, with the Spiders losing eight of the nine matches he played and conceding 25 goals.
A brief pre-season appearance under Russell Martin against Club Brugge did little to change his standing, and after rejecting a permanent departure to English side Wycombe Wanderers - home of former teammate Alex Lowry - another loan move followed – this time to Ayr United.
At Somerset Park, however, King has found rhythm, confidence and appreciation. He has spoken positively about his time with the Scottish Championship side, highlighting the importance of regular football after a long spell on the sidelines.
“I’m really enjoying my time here and I’m glad that the clubs have agreed to let me stay,” King said.
“You need to go and hit the ground running in these loans, and I feel as though I’ve done that.”
He also acknowledged that rebuilding his level after missing so much football takes time.
“I’ve obviously missed a lot of football for a long period of time now, so it takes a bit of time to get back up to the standards I set for myself,” he admitted.
Ayr supporters have responded positively, with fans describing him as a “good addition” and suggesting he could be worth signing permanently when his Rangers contract expires.
For Rangers, King’s journey serves as a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in football.
Once viewed as a long-term defensive option, he now appears set to depart quietly after a challenging few seasons.
While his Ibrox chapter may be closing, King’s resurgence at Ayr offers hope that he can still carve out a strong career in Scottish football – even if it comes away from Rangers.