Cammy Devlin has spoken candidly about the intense pressure he experienced surrounding his transfer to Rangers, a period that coincided with his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 28‑year‑old midfielder, known for his gritty style of play, endured a roller‑coaster of emotions after narrowly missing out on the Scottish Premiership crown with Heart of Midlothian. Hearts were pipped on the final day of the campaign when a late goal in an away game against Celtic handed the Glasgow side a fifth consecutive title, leaving Devlin and his teammates heart‑broken. In the aftermath of that disappointment, Devlin embarked on a trip to North America as part of the Australian national side, the Socceroos, for the World Cup.
Australia’s journey was cut short in the round of 32 when they fell to Egypt in a dramatic penalty shoot‑out. Throughout the tournament, rumours swirled that Devlin might reunite with former Hearts manager Derek McInnes, who had taken the helm at Rangers, and with club captain Lawrence Shankland, also a recent Ibrox signing.
On 11 July, just one day after Hearts announced that Devlin would be leaving the Tynecastle Stadium on a free transfer, the midfielder signed a two‑year contract with Rangers, with an option to extend for a third year. He made his debut in the famous blue strip during the second half of a 2‑1 pre‑season friendly win over St Étienne at Ibrox, earning praise from both the travelling Light Blues supporters and manager McInnes.
Ahead of Rangers’ final warm‑up match against West Ham United, Devlin reflected on the whirlwind of events that had dominated his life over the past few months. "Yeah, it was stressful, to be honest," he admitted. "It was hard, obviously. We didn’t have much time to process how the season ended, and then we were thrust straight into the World Cup – one of the most special moments of a player's career." He went on to describe the personal side of the experience, noting that his parents and his girlfriend had flown to the United States to cheer him on during the tournament.
"You never think as a kid you’ll be lucky enough to be involved in something like that, so you try to soak up every minute," he said. "I thought it would be a good idea to go into the World Cup with my contract expiring, but it turned out to be too stressful." Devlin explained that the combination of a high‑profile international competition, the lingering disappointment of the Hearts title race, and the looming decision about his club future created a perfect storm of anxiety. "It was hard to enjoy the moment at the World Cup while also dealing with all the noise around the transfer speculation," he said.
"My dad was calling me every day asking what was happening." He also highlighted the close relationship he has with McInnes, describing the manager as a mentor who helped him develop during his time at Hearts. "He was so good for me at Hearts. Everyone knows the season we had there last year, and he helped me a lot as a player," Devlin noted. "When he got the Rangers job, we kept in touch, but it wasn’t a huge amount of contact at first.
Of course, once he became the Rangers manager, there were many more things on his plate than just me." Despite the stress, Devlin said the opportunity to join Rangers was too attractive to ignore. "I was trying not to focus too much on the speculation and just enjoy the World Cup," he explained.
"But when the chance to sign for Rangers came, it was an offer I couldn’t pass up. Rangers are a massive club with a huge fan base, and that was a huge factor for me." He concluded by expressing relief that the tense period was now behind him. "It was pretty stressful, but I’m glad it’s all over now," he said with a smile.
Rangers will kick off McInnes’s tenure with a league match against Dundee United on 31 July, a fixture that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The game marks the start of an unprecedented opening weekend in which all six Scottish Premiership matches will be shown live on the network for the first time. It will also be McInnes’s first competitive appearance as Rangers manager, following his appointment after the departure of Danny Röhl. Fans can follow the full schedule of Rangers’ Premiership fixtures, including the date of the season’s first Old Firm clash, through the club’s official channels.
Meanwhile, the club has also launched a promotional Super 6 competition, offering participants a chance to win a share of a £250,000 prize pool at no cost. Overall, Devlin’s story underscores how professional footballers must balance the pressures of club ambitions, international duty, and personal life, often within a compressed timeframe. His candid reflections provide a window into the mental and emotional challenges that accompany high‑stakes transfers and the global spotlight of a World Cup, while also highlighting the excitement of joining one of Scotland’s most storied clubs.