Gillingham’s former defender Emmanuel Fernandez has clinched a move to Scottish giants Rangers.
Fernandez completed his youth scholarship at Gillingham’s but was released by the club in 2020 after failing to make it into the first team under former boss Steve Evans.
Fernandez had previously spent time on loan at Margate and Sheppey United and played for Ramsgate after leaving the Gills, but Peterborough United took a punt on the big centre-half and handed him a two-year deal in the summer of 2021.
He’s spent the last four years with Peterborough, breaking into their senior side in the second half of the 2023/24 season.
Fernandez, now 23, played against the Gills last season in the EFL Trophy game at Priestfield and went on to get a winner’s medal in the competition after starting at Wembley against Birmingham City in the club’s 2-0 win.
In a standout season for the League 1 side, he made 42 appearances and has now signed a four-year contract with Rangers, moving there for an undisclosed fee.
Former MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton manager Russell Martin took charge of Rangers as head coach this summer.
Fernandez said: “I am honoured, it is a huge club with a great fanbase and I think I can kickstart my career and have a good journey here.
“I was shocked when I heard about Rangers because it is such a big club but it was the place I wanted to be.
“I haven’t played at this level, there will be a lot of life changes for me, but it is something I want to be part of and I can’t wait to get started.”
