Ehiogu completes move to Rangers

Ehiogu was in Glasgow with his agent for talks and a medical

Rangers have completed the signing of veteran central defender Ugo Ehiogu from Middlesbrough.

The 34-year-old former England international has signed an 18-month contract after being released from his current deal by the Premiership club.

Ehiogu said: "I'm really pleased to be here, although I'm still taking in my surroundings given the place's size.

"I just want to thank everyone at Middlesbrough for their professionalism in their handling of me."

Interview: Rangers defender Ugo Ehiogu

Ehiogu spent six years with Boro, making 150 appareances, after moving from Aston Villa for £8m.

He won two League Cup winner's medals at Villa under Brian Little and made his England international debut against Italy in 1996.

But, having lost his Boro place, he joined Championship strugglers Leeds United on loan at the end of November and featured six times for Dennis Wise's outfit, scoring once.

I was not in a position to offer him regular first-team football Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate

Now he is expected to make his debut in Saturday's Scottish Premier League meeting with Hearts.

"If things had been sorted out sooner, there was even talk of me playing against Dunfermline last Sunday," Ehiogu told Rangers' website.

"But, with technical stuff and a few loose ends that needed to be tied up, it just wasn't possible."

Boro manager Gareth Southgate paid tribute to Ehiogu.

"I have known and played alongside Ugo, both at Aston Villa and Boro, for many years and have the utmost respect for him," said Southgate, who also released midfielder Ray Parlour.

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"Unfortunately, I was not in a position to offer them regular first-team football, so their release gives them a chance to move on."

Ehiogu becomes the second veteran central defender to be signed by Walter Smith since the former Scotland manager took over from Paul Le Guen.

David Weir has already arrived from Everton.

Smith told Rangers World: "He will give us a bit of steel and experience.

"We need a number of players between now and the end of the season, especially as we have European matches coming up too.

"Like Davie Weir, he will help all the younger lads around him."