Former Rangers winger, Young Player of the Year and title winner Ryan Kent will once again become a free agent this January as Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders have indicated they will not be renewing his deal which expires on Hogmanay – despite holding the option to extend for a further 12 months.
Kent, now 29, departed Rangers upon the expiration of his Ibrox deal in the summer of 2023 alongside fellow title winners Alfredo Morelos, Filip Helander, Scott Arfield and Allan McGregor as the 2022 UEFA Europa League final squad began to depart the club.
Kent initially opted for a lucrative move to Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahçe – signing a four year deal with the Istanbul based club – and even scored against Moldovan side Zimbru Chisinau on his debut in a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying match but quickly fell out of favour.
He would depart in October 2024, with his goal against Chisinau being his only goal in 19 appearances and spent six months as a free agent before joining Sounders in March of this year.
However, after just 21 matches for the American side, where he notched up five assists but failed to score, Kent looks set to move again – and once again Ibrox has been linked as a possible destination.
Rangers however, seem reluctant to turn to the past – with Kent’s poor final year at the club and his lack of success seen as key points that are leaving the club unconvinced over a return.
Another factor is the form of Djeidi Gassama – operating on the left – Kent’s natural position. The club feel that the wide areas are not a necessity for the upcoming window, and will focus on defence and the centre-forward areas of the park as new Head Coach Danny Rohl looks to navigate Rangers back into the title race in the second half of the season.
This would also rule out a move for Kazakhstan winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek, with whom the club have also been linked with a move for recently.
The 22-year-old’s contract with Yelimay Semey also ends next month, but clubs from eight countries are interested in the 22-year-old and the only concrete offer has come from Scottish Premiership rivals Dundee United.
Despite reports of Rangers submitting an offer – as of now, no approach has been made.
Kent is reportedly keen to return to the United Kingdom, but a move to the English Championship would be his most likely destination at this stage.