Leon Balogun, the seasoned Super Eagles defender, has secured a one-year contract extension with Scottish club Glasgow Rangers. Balogun, who joined Rangers on a free transfer after his stint with Queen Park Rangers ended in 2023, was initially signed until May 31, 2024. However, the club decided to extend his stay just days before his original contract was set to expire.
The 35-year-old, born in Germany but representing Nigeria internationally, earned this extension after impressing Rangers’ coach Philippe Clement towards the end of the 2023-2024 season. Despite being injury-prone, Balogun managed to play 19 games across all competitions, accumulating 1,443 minutes on the pitch.
Balogun’s importance to coach Clement was evident when he started in Rangers’ 1-0 defeat against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final on May 25. Coach Clement had previously expressed his desire to retain Balogun, praising his consistent mentality and passion for the club.
“Leon has shown every day the right mentality and passion for the club,” Clement remarked. “That’s something we’ll consider at the end of the season.”
Despite his key role at Rangers, Balogun has not returned to the Super Eagles squad for nearly two years. He is notably absent from the squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa on June 7 and Benin Republic on June 10.
