13 August 2008

Rangers have signed 19-year-old attacking midfielder Aaron Niguez Esclapez on a two-year loan deal with an option to buy the player.

Esclapez joined Valencia as a youth and played against AS Roma in the 2006 Champions League.

The Spaniard has been on loan at Iraklis FC in the Greek Super League since the start of the 2007 season.

Esclapez is due to travel to Glasgow on Thursday to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms.

The player was also a member of the Spanish under-19 side that won the 2007 Uefa European Under-19 championship.

Rangers manager Walter Smith has been keen to bolster his midfield after captain Barry Ferguson was ruled out for up to four months after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury. Source - BBC Sport

14 August 2008

WALTER SMITH today stepped up his mission to rebuild Rangers midfield by landing exciting Spanish prospect Aaron Niguez from Valencia.

And the Gers boss is hoping the youngster can fulfil his promise and prove to be an excellent addition to the squad.

The 19-year-old arrived in Glasgow today to undergo a medical and complete personal terms on a two-year loan deal, with Rangers having an option to purchase him after that.

Aaron - whose best position is left midfield - has skippered Spain at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-20 level and spent the second half of last season farmed out at Greek side Iraklis. Smith said: "We are very pleased to have got the lad, he has a fantastic pedigree and we hope he can bring us something a little bit different.

"He has played at a very high level with all the Spanish national youth teams, and also been involved in the Champions League with Valencia a few years ago.

"He is just 19, and he'll need a bit of time to settle. But he did that quickly in his loan spell over in Greece and we have been aware of him for a while now.

"We have injuries to Steven Naismith and Chris Burke, and I feel getting someone in for the wider areas is important. He will be involved in our first team squad."

Aaron had the option of going back to Iraklis for a season, or joining several clubs in Spain, but admitted he is thrilled at the chance to continue his development at Rangers.

He spoke with countryman Nahco Novo before finalising his decision and said: "I am hungry to do well at Ibrox. I am coming to Scotland because I want success. I know a little about Rangers and that Nacho and Carlos Cullear have been playing there. I have spoken to Nacho about the club and he told me all about Scotland.

"I hope that moving to Scotland will give me an opportunity to learn. My aim is to show Valencia my quality."

Source - Evening Times

14 August 2008

Rangers have signed one of European football's most coveted young talents in Spain's under-20 captain, Aaron Niguez Escoplez.

After a day of fevered speculation that included an attempt to sign James McFadden from Birmingham, the imminent arrival of Mark Bresciano, the Palermo midfielder, and the possible sale of Kris Boyd to Newcastle United, Rangers instead secured the Valencia winger on a two-year loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer.

The 19-year-old, who plays under his forename, has been tracked by Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid since making his debut for Valencia in the Champions League against AS Roma two years ago. He was sent out on loan to the Segunda Liga side, Xerez CD, at the start of last season and moved in the January window to Iraklis, of Greece.

Spanish rules permit clubs to list only 24 players for their first team squads, and despite the option to remain in Greece, Rangers were alerted to his availability through his agent, who also represents Ibrox attacker Nacho Novo.

Aaron came to prominence in the European under-17 Championships but excelled at under-19 level, where he helped Spain defeat Greece in the final. He scored twice in the semi-final victory against France, a performance that alerted Chelsea's then director of football, Frank Arnesen.

Even Rafael Benitez, a former Valencia coach, was rejected when he tried to sign the prodigy. "Chelsea and Liverpool are enormous clubs and it's great that they have an interest in me but I'm young and happy to carry on building my career with Valencia," he said at the time. Source - The Herald