Rangers have finalized the acquisition of winger Daisuke Yokota from Hannover 96. The 26-year-old has joined Ibrox on a three-year contract, with an optional one-year extension, for an initial fee of £2.75m plus add-ons. Yokota, who scored five goals and registered four assists in the German second division last season, has been included in Rangers' Europa League squad ahead of their third-round qualifier against Jagiellonia Białystok. This signing marks Rangers' ninth summer addition, following the arrivals of Ivor Pandur, Vanja Dragojevic, Olwethu Makhanya, Ross McCrorie, Dan Neil, Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Devlin, and Ben Godfrey.
Upon signing, Yokota expressed his excitement, stating, 'I'm thrilled to be joining Rangers, a club with a rich history, passionate fans, and high aspirations. 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 18, where he joined the academies of FSV Frankfurt and FC Carl Zeiss Jena. He later signed with Latvian club Valmiera in 2021, 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, which became permanent last season.
Manager Derek McInnes commented, 'We're delighted to bring Daisuke to the club. He's a player we've been tracking for some time, and his qualities will significantly enhance our attacking capabilities. At 26, he has gained valuable experience across various European leagues, possessing the speed, directness, and ability to make an impact in the final third.'