Over the years, Rangers and Celtic have often clashed in the transfer market, battling for the signatures of several players.
One notable example is Nacho Novo, who famously snubbed Celtic before joining Rangers from Dundee in 2004. Claudio Caniggia also chose Ibrox over Parkhead, while the Maurice Johnston saga in 1989 remains one of the most iconic transfer stories in Scottish football history.
In more recent times, a standout moment involved a renowned Northern Irish striker whose allegiance to Rangers was clear from the start—Kyle Lafferty.
Kyle Lafferty on Rejecting Celtic in Favour of Rangers
As a young player at Burnley, Kyle Lafferty attracted attention from Celtic, who were eager to bring the tall forward to Glasgow. However, despite Celtic’s efforts—including a higher wage offer and a bigger signing bonus—Lafferty’s loyalty to Rangers prevailed.
Speaking on the Let Me Be Frank podcast, Lafferty said:
“Celtic tried to sign me two windows before Rangers came in. There was a bit of a bidding war, but being from Northern Ireland, I always knew there was only one team for me. I turned Celtic down, even though they offered more money and a bigger fee to Burnley. I was only 19, but I told Burnley I wouldn’t join Celtic. It just wasn’t in my blood.”
Lafferty Says He Forced Burnley to Sell Him to Rangers
Lafferty also admitted to pushing for the move to Rangers, feeling that Burnley were standing in the way of his dream. He recalled contacting then-manager Owen Coyle and demanding that the club accept Rangers’ offer.
Eventually, he secured a £3.5 million transfer to Rangers in 2008. During his first stint, he won three league titles, two League Cups, and a Scottish Cup under manager Walter Smith. He later returned to Ibrox in 2018 under Steven Gerrard, although his second spell was less successful.
Reflecting on the move, Lafferty added:
“There were people advising me back then, more experienced folks I looked up to. I told Owen Coyle they were blocking my dream. It was tough, but in the end, it paid off.”
