Rangers are reportedly close to terminating John Souttar’s contract, clearing the way for the defender to complete a move to Aris.
Rangers are reportedly prepared to terminate John Souttar’s contract to remove the final obstacle blocking his proposed move to Aris Thessaloniki. Football FanCast reported that the Ibrox club and the defender are close to an agreement which would end his deal, allowing the Greek side to complete the transfer before their domestic deadline.
That's a big twist in the story, as the move appeared to have collapsed only days earlier. Souttar had reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with Aris, but a dispute over money owed under his Rangers deal prevented him from travelling for a medical.
Earlier, Greek journalist George Tsarouchas reported that Souttar was staying after Rangers offered only half of a previously agreed amount. Football FanCast’s later exclusive indicates that negotiations resumed and the parties moved closer to a compromise before the Greek deadline.
A compromise now appears to be within reach, but the precise financial terms remain unclear. Likewise, cancelling the contract by mutual agreement would allow Rangers to move on from a player who is no longer central to Derek McInnes’ plans.
It would also remove Souttar’s wages from the books, although the Light Blues may have to accept little or no transfer fee in return. That trade-off is understandable when the alternative is paying him without offering regular football.
With several centre-back options ahead of him, retaining Souttar as depth would offer limited sporting value relative to the ongoing cost. The Gers only announced a new agreement for the Scotland international in February.
That contract runs until May 2027, with the club holding an option for another year, making the speed of the apparent change in his status seem sudden. Nevertheless, the Scotland international has accumulated 132 appearances and four goals since joining Rangers from Hearts in 2022.
He remained a Scotland player at this summer’s World Cup, but McInnes has publicly indicated that regular football elsewhere would better serve his long-term future. The manager nevertheless stressed that Rangers would honour Souttar’s contract and bring him back into the group if no transfer materialised.
An agreed termination would spare all parties that awkward outcome and give the centre-back the fresh start he is seeking. If the reported compromise is completed and Souttar passes his medical, Aris can finally conclude a deal that has repeatedly changed direction.
Otherwise, Rangers may be left with an unwanted contractual issue until another market offers an exit. While there are still three markets open under the UEFA confederation, finding a replacement club will be hard, with all of them entering the final days of their respective windows.
