Rangers have boosted their Scottish Premiership title chances with the high-profile loan signing of Jermain Defoe.

The former England striker, a scorer of 162 Premier League goals, has moved to Ibrox on an 18-month deal from Bournemouth.

The signing of the 36-year-old is a huge boost for Steven Gerrard’s men, who for the first time in a number of years are in a legitimate title tussle.

Locked level on points with Celtic, Rangers are in with a real chance and Gerrard described Defoe’s signing as “a great addition to our dressing room”.

Defoe has scored goals wherever he has played, 273 of them in a club career taking in the likes of West Ham, Tottenham, Sunderland and Portsmouth.

“I’m delighted to be able to welcome Jermain to Rangers. He is an exceptionally talented striker and vastly experienced footballer who has scored goals at every club he has played for,” Gerrard said.

“We look forward to integrating him into the squad whilst we work in Tenerife over the next week.”

Defoe was awarded an OBE in 2018
Defoe was awarded an OBE in 2018 (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Defoe is the seventh-highest scorer in the history of the Premier League and sixth in the history of Tottenham.

Not only has he won admirers for his football – he scored 20 goals for England too – he has earned praise for his off-the-field behaviour, in particular his friendship with Bradley Lowery, a Sunderland fan who died aged six after a long battle with neuroblastoma.

Defoe was awarded an OBE for his charity work in 2018.

“It’s really helpful to get work on this front done early in the transfer window because it means we should be able to hit the ground running after the winter break. I believe that is vitally important,” Rangers director of football Mark Allen added.

Defoe was the first of Rangers’ signings on a busy day, with Steven Davis later returning to the club on a six-month loan.

The Southampton midfielder was a popular figure during a previous spell at Rangers, making over 200 appearances across four years, during which he won eight major trophies, including three league titles.

“He has previously captained the club and been captain for his country and Southampton, so we welcome yet another leader into our dressing room,” Gerrard said.