Surprise exit of Rangers defender announced as summer Ibrox exodus begins | OneFootball

Rangers Academy have officially confirmed the permanent departure of youngster Johnly Yfeko, who has signed for English side Exeter City (OfficialLECFC) in a full-time move. The club took to social media to announce the switch, wishing the defender all the best in his future career.

Yfeko, 21, was a promising talent within the Rangers youth setup, having joined from Leicester City’s academy back in 2020. Over the years, he developed his game at Auchenhowie and featured regularly for the B team in the Lowland League. While he never managed to break into the senior first team at Ibrox, his presence in the development squad was consistent, and he was often regarded as a composed and technically tidy defender with a good reading of the game.

The move to Exeter represents a chance for Yfeko to begin his senior career properly with the opportunity for regular first-team football, something that had understandably eluded him at Rangers given the competition and sheer pressure to perform at the highest level in Glasgow. Exeter, who play in England’s League One, have built a reputation in recent years for giving young players a chance and developing them into strong professional assets, so it could be the perfect platform for Johnly to flourish.

From a Rangers perspective, while it’s always disappointing to see academy players move on without making the step up to the senior side, it’s also a reflection of the reality at a club of our size. Not every youth player can make the cut, and moves like this are part and parcel of football development. If anything, it’s a compliment to Rangers’ coaching and facilities that clubs in England are regularly snapping up talent from our system.

The club’s message was a respectful one, thanking Johnly for his time and wishing him well – as it should be. We echo that sentiment. Best of luck to Johnly Yfeko – hopefully this move gives him the pathway his career needs, and we’ll be watching with interest to see how he progresses in English football.