A new study by The 30 has revealed that Rangers possess the third-youngest squad in the Scottish Premiership this season, highlighting a quiet yet significant shift in the age profile of the team from the ageing 55-winning and UEFA Europa League final reaching squad – even if it’s success has not been as great.
According to the data, Rangers average starting XI age sits at 25.2, with their overall squad age at 25.3. Only Dundee United (24.3) and Dundee (24.4) field younger teams on average, with both Tayside clubs leaning heavily into youthful recruitment and development-driven models.
Dundee United stand out as outliers, naming line-ups nearly two years younger on average than the division’s mean age.
Rangers figures reflect a deliberate attempt, albeit uneven at times, to lower the age curve after several seasons relying heavily on experienced pros.
The departure of older squad players in recent windows such as Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun and Allan McGregor and the integration of younger talents signed from other clubs such as Connor Barron, Nicolas Raskin and Djeidi Gassama added to the emergence of Findlay Curtis have contributed to the drop.
Even so, the numbers also underline how much room there still is for the club to evolve, especially in comparison to continental sides competing in Europe with more aggressively youth-focused strategies.
Across the league, the trend is unmistakable. Kilmarnock (24.9 squad average) and Falkirk (25.8) sit just behind Rangers, while Motherwell (26.1) and St Mirren (26.7) hover around the mid-table average.
Aberdeen, historically one of the younger Premiership squads, now rank at 25.4 for their XI and 25.5 across the squad - still competitive, though slightly older than in previous years.
At the opposite end of the table, Celtic surprisingly emerge as one of the division’s oldest groups this season despite playing time being afforded to players like Johnny Kenny and Colby Donovan, with their XI averaging 27.1 and the overall squad 26.8. Hearts (27.2 XI average; 27.1 squad) and Hibs (27.8 XI; 27.4 squad) complete a trio of experienced sides, while Livingston have the league’s oldest age profile at 27.6 for their XI and a notable 28.4 for the full squad.
For Rangers, the numbers paint an interesting picture. While they remain near the top end of youth integration domestically, supporters may fairly question whether the squad’s age profile truly aligns with performances.
A younger team is not inherently a better one - but it does suggest potential, headroom, and a platform for growth.
With academy products increasingly appearing on the bench and prospects such Calum Adamson edging nearer to first-team exposure, the club’s age profile may continue to shift in the months ahead.
Yet the challenge remains clear: youth must be paired with quality, and Rangers must ensure that lowering the age curve goes hand-in-hand with building a squad capable of reclaiming domestic superiority.