Kieran Dowell has officially brought his Rangers career to an end after completing a six-month loan move to Hull City, with the English Championship side set to sign the midfielder on a permanent deal in the summer.
The 28-year-old was absent from training photos at the Rangers Training Centre yesterday, and sources inside the club have confirmed that Dowell said his goodbyes, cleared his locker and travelled south to finalise the switch.
Hull are covering an undisclosed percentage of Dowell’s wages, while no loan fee has been paid due to the club’s current transfer embargo restrictions.
Despite those limitations, a preliminary agreement has reportedly been reached for Dowell to join the Tigers permanently once his Rangers contract expires at the end of the season. Both clubs are expected to confirm the move later today.
Dowell departs Ibrox less than a week after scoring his first goal for Rangers in over two years, heading home the Light Blues third in last Friday’s 5–0 Scottish Cup victory over Annan Athletic. That strike now stands as his final contribution in a Rangers shirt.
The midfielder joined Rangers in the summer of 2023 after being signed by then-manager Michael Beale from Norwich City.
He made a promising start, scoring early in his Rangers career during a win over Livingston at Ibrox, but injuries and inconsistent form prevented him from establishing himself as a regular starter.
Under Beale and later Philippe Clement, Dowell struggled for sustained opportunities, with Clement sanctioning a loan move to Birmingham City in January 2025 in a bid to revive his fortunes, where he performed well and won the EFL League One title.
Returning to Rangers last summer under Russell Martin, Dowell’s future initially looked uncertain. Despite links away from the club, he remained part of the squad through July and August, featuring in UEFA Champions League qualifiers against Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzeň, Premiership matches against Motherwell and Dundee, and Rangers League Cup win over Alloa Athletic.
Just as he appeared to be working his way back into the manager’s plans, another injury sidelined him ahead of the final European qualifiers against Club Brugge. His absence coincided with a turbulent period at the club, which ultimately saw Martin replaced by Danny Rohl.
Dowell returned to the matchday squad for a 1–0 win over Hibernian at Easter Road and had been named on the bench for every subsequent fixture until the Scottish Cup tie with Annan.
Given a rare start, he took his chance, scoring with a clever header and showing the technical quality that once made him such a highly-rated prospect.
That appearance proved to be his farewell at Ibrox.
In total, Dowell made 39 appearances for Rangers, scoring three goals and providing three assists, along with a single Challenge Cup appearance for Rangers B.
At Hull, Dowell will reunite with former Rangers teammate John Lundstram, while ex-Ibrox midfielder Matt Crooks is also part of the Tigers’ squad.
Scotland striker and lifelong Rangers supporter Oli McBurnie completes a familiar group at the MKM Stadium, giving Dowell a ready-made network as he settles into life back in England.
Hull’s ability to complete the deal comes despite strict squad registration limits. The Tigers now have six senior loan players on their books but still have room for one more.
That final slot is expected to be filled by Manchester United defensive midfielder Toby Collyer.
Crucially, 19-year-old Manchester City loanee Joel Ndala does not count towards Hull’s six-loan limit due to his age. The same rule applies at Rangers, where youngsters such as Mikey Moore and Jayden Meghoma are exempt from the club’s senior loan quota.
For Rangers, Dowell’s departure frees up squad space and eases the wage bill as Rohl continues reshaping his squad. For the player, the move offers a fresh start and badly-needed regular football.