Defoe joins Rangers on 18-month loan deal

Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe has completed an 18-month loan switch to Scottish Premier League club Rangers, the English Premier League side said on Sunday.

It is a move that reunites him with former England team mate Steven Gerrard, who is the manager of the club.

Bournemouth added that Defoe, who has struggled for playing time this season, making only four substitute appearances in the league, will remain at Rangers until 2020.

But the south-coast club has the option of recalling the 36-year-old in July.

“I’m delighted to be able to welcome Jermain to Rangers,” Gerrard told the Rangers website.

“He is an exceptionally talented striker and vastly experienced footballer who has scored goals at every club he has played for.

“He’ll be a great addition to our dressing room and we look forward to integrating him into the squad whilst we work in Tenerife over the next week.”

Former West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland veteran Defoe has made 34 appearances in his second spell at Bournemouth, scoring four goals.

He has scored 162 Premier League goals in 496 appearances throughout his 24-year professional career and has 57 caps for the national team to date.

Bournemouth signed Dominic Solanke from Liverpool on Friday with the striker expected to fill in for Defoe, but the 21-year-old will be unavailable throughout January due to a hamstring injury.

Rangers are second in the Scottish Premiership, level on 42 points with great rivals Celtic, as they seek a first top flight title in eight years.