Cammy Devlin opened up about the pressure he experienced during the 2026 World Cup as he prepared to secure a move to Rangers. The 28‑year‑old, known for his combative style in midfield, had just endured a heartbreaking end to his season with Heart of Midlothian. Hearts had been in contention for the Scottish Premiership crown up until the final matchday, when a late defeat away to Celtic – who were on course to claim a fifth straight title – snatched the championship away.

Still reeling from that disappointment, Devlin boarded a plane for North America to join the Australian national side, the Socceroos, at the World Cup. Australia’s campaign was short‑lived. After advancing to the round of 32, the Socceroos were eliminated by Egypt in a penalty shoot‑out, ending their tournament run earlier than many had hoped.

Throughout the World Cup, rumors swirled about Devlin possibly reuniting with former Hearts manager Derek McInnes, who had taken over at Rangers, and with club captain Lawrence Shankland, who also made the switch to Ibrox. The speculation added another layer of distraction for the Sydney‑born midfielder, who was already trying to process the abrupt end to his club season and the intense emotions of representing his country on football’s biggest stage. On July 11, just a day after Hearts announced that Devlin would be leaving Tynecastle on a free transfer, he signed a two‑year contract with Rangers, with an option to extend for a further year.

He made his debut in the famous blue shirt later that week, coming on in the second half of a 2‑1 friendly victory over French side St Étienne at Ibrox. The performance earned praise from both the Rangers supporters and manager McInnes, who noted Devlin’s composure despite the whirlwind of events surrounding his transfer.

Speaking ahead of Rangers’ final pre‑season friendly against West Ham United, Devlin reflected candidly on the emotional roller‑coaster he had endured. "Yeah, it was stressful, to be honest," he admitted.

"It was hard, obviously. We didn’t have much time to reflect on how the last season ended, and then we were thrust straight into the World Cup, which is one of the most special moments of a player's career." He went on to describe the unique support system he had during the tournament: "My mum and dad and my girlfriend were over in America supporting me at the World Cup. You never think as a kid you would be lucky enough to be involved in that, so you try to enjoy it as much as you can." Yet the constant media attention and speculation about his future made it difficult for him to simply live in the moment.

"I thought it would be a good idea going in there off contract, but it wasn’t. It was too stressful," he said.

Devlin explained that the pressure was not only external. "It was hard to enjoy being in the moment and being at the World Cup and dealing with all that noise around it. I had my dad asking me every day what's going on," he recalled. The relationship he shares with McInnes added another dimension to the stress.

"Everyone knows the relationship I have with the gaffer. We're super close. He was so good for me at Hearts.

Everyone knows the season we had there last year and he helped me so much just as a player. So obviously I was speaking to him. And then when he got the job here, we had contact at the start, but not a whole lot. I can imagine when he became the Rangers manager, there was a lot more going on than just me and you've got to remember that." Despite trying to keep his focus on the World Cup, Devlin admitted that the prospect of joining Rangers was a temptation he could not ignore.

"I was trying not to focus too much on it and trying to, like I say, just enjoy the World Cup. But when the opportunity came, it was one that I thought was too good to pass up," he explained. He emphasized the magnitude of the move: "Obviously being at Rangers is such a massive football club and that was kind of what happened for me.

But like I say, it was pretty stressful. I'm glad now it's all over." Rangers will kick off McInnes’s tenure with a league match against Dundee United on July 31, broadcast live on Sky Sports. The Friday night fixture, set for an 8 p.m.

kickoff, will also mark a historic moment for Scottish football, as all six Premiership games will be shown live on Sky Sports for the first time ever. This encounter will be McInnes’s first competitive appearance in charge after replacing Danny Röhl as Rangers manager.

The move to Rangers represents a new chapter for Devlin, who hopes to translate his tenacity and work‑rate into success at one of Scotland’s most storied clubs. While the transition period was fraught with anxiety, the midfielder now looks forward to focusing on his performances on the pitch, contributing to the team’s ambitions, and forging a strong partnership with his former Hearts manager, now his boss at Ibrox. The upcoming season promises fresh challenges, but also the chance for Devlin to leave the stress behind and thrive in a supportive environment that values his gritty style of play. For fans eager to follow Rangers’ campaign, all fixtures, including the highly anticipated Old Firm clash later in the season, are available on Sky Sports.

Additionally, the club’s official channels are offering a Super 6 competition, giving supporters a chance to win a share of a £250,000 prize pool at no cost. The excitement surrounding Devlin’s arrival and the broader developments in Scottish football suggest a thrilling summer ahead for both the player and the club.