Cammy Devlin opened up about the intense pressure he experienced during the 2026 World Cup while he was navigating a potential move to Rangers. The 28‑year‑old, known for his gritty style of play, had just endured a heartbreaking end to his season with Heart of Midlothian. Hearts were in contention for the Scottish Premiership crown up until the final matchday, when a late defeat away to Celtic—who were on the verge of securing a fifth consecutive title—snapped their title hopes.
The disappointment lingered, and Devlin soon found himself on a different kind of journey: a trip across the Atlantic with the Australian national side, the Socceroos. Australia’s campaign in Qatar was short‑lived.
After advancing to the round of 32, they were eliminated by Egypt in a penalty shoot‑out. Throughout the tournament, rumors swirled about Devlin possibly reuniting with former Hearts manager Derek McInnes, who had taken over at Rangers, and with club captain Lawrence Shankland, also a former Hearts player. Those whispers added another layer of complexity to an already stressful period.
On 11 July, just a day after Hearts announced that Devlin would leave Tynecastle on a free transfer, the midfielder signed a two‑year contract with Rangers, with an option for a third year. He made his debut in a blue shirt in the second half of a 2‑1 friendly victory over St Étienne at Ibrox, earning praise from both the travelling Light Blues supporters and his former manager McInnes, who now wore the Rangers badge.
Ahead of Rangers’ final pre‑season friendly against West Ham United, the Sydney‑born player reflected on the whirlwind of events. "It was stressful, to be honest," he admitted. "It was hard, obviously.
We didn’t have much time to process how the previous 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." Devlin highlighted the personal dimension of the tournament: "My mum, my dad and my girlfriend were in America cheering me on at the World Cup. As a kid you never imagine you’ll be lucky enough to be part of something like that, so you try to soak it all in." He went on to explain why he had initially thought it would be wise to let his contract run out before making a move. "I thought it would be a good idea to go into the summer off‑contract, but it turned out to be too stressful.
It was hard to enjoy the moment at the World Cup while dealing with all the noise surrounding the transfer speculation. My dad was calling me every day asking what was happening." The midfielder also spoke about his relationship with McInnes, describing it as "super close". He credited the manager with helping him through a difficult season at Hearts, saying, "Everyone knows the season we had last year and how much he helped me as a player." When McInnes accepted the Rangers job, Devlin said their contact was limited at first, but the prospect of working together again grew more tangible as the manager’s new role unfolded.
"I can imagine when he became the Rangers manager, there was a lot more going on than just me, and you have to remember that," Devlin noted. Balancing the excitement of the World Cup with the looming decision about his club future proved to be a delicate act.
"I was trying not to focus too much on it and just enjoy the tournament," he said, "but when the opportunity at Rangers presented itself, it felt too good to pass up." Devlin acknowledged the magnitude of joining Rangers, describing the club as "a massive football institution". Yet he reiterated that the whole process had been taxing. "It was pretty stressful, but I’m glad it’s all over now," he concluded.
Rangers will kick off Derek McInnes’s tenure with a league match against Dundee United on 31 July, broadcast live on Sky Sports. The Friday night encounter, set for an 8 p.m. kickoff, marks the start of an unprecedented opening weekend in which all six Scottish Premiership fixtures will be shown live on Sky Sports for the first time. This game will also be McInnes’s first competitive appearance in charge after replacing Danny Röhl as Rangers manager.
Fans can follow the full schedule of Rangers’ Premiership fixtures, including the date of the season’s first Old Firm clash, by checking the club’s official website. Additionally, a promotional Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £250,000, with free entry for participants.