Rangers have finalized the acquisition of winger Daisuke Yokota from Hannover 96. The 26-year-old has made the move to Ibrox for an initial fee of £2.75m, plus add-ons, and has agreed to a three-year contract with an option for an additional year. Yokota, who scored five goals and provided four assists in Germany's second division last season, has been included in Rangers' Europa League squad as they prepare to face Jagiellonia Białystok in a third-round qualifier.
He becomes Rangers' ninth summer signing, following the arrivals of Ivor Pandur, Vanja Dragojevic, Olwethu Makhanya, Ross McCrorie, Dan Neil, Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Devlin, and Ben Godfrey. Upon signing for the club, Yokota expressed his excitement, stating, 'I'm thrilled to be joining Rangers, a club with a rich history, passionate fans, and high ambitions.
My goal is to contribute to the team's success this season and create special memories together.' Yokota began his career in Tokyo before moving to Germany at the age of 18, where he joined the academies of FSV Frankfurt and FC Carl Zeiss Jena. In 2021, he signed with Latvian club Valmiera, helping them secure their first championship title in 2022 with eight goals and 10 assists. After a stint in Poland with Górnik Zabrze, Yokota joined Gent in 2024 and had a successful loan spell at Hannover 96 before making the move permanent last season. Manager Derek McInnes welcomed Yokota, saying, 'We're delighted to bring Daisuke to the club.
He's a player we've been tracking for some time, and we believe he'll significantly enhance our attacking options. With his experience across various European leagues, he brings a unique set of skills, including his speed and ability to make an impact in the final third.'